9. What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder.

10. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same

matter.

11. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Hence we learn that according to the decree of Christ, polygamy is unlawful to the end of the world.

12. And if a woman put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Though the case might be less frequent, yet Jesus provided against this violation of the marriage vow, on the part of the woman also, with her husband.-Edit.

13. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God.

He suffered you to come to him, and received you into his covenant, in your baptism. But if you have not since come to him, and entered yourselves into his covenant, with the disposition here required, your baptism is of no effect.

15. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

All who would receive the kingdom of God, must feel themselves as helpless, and be as teachable and as free from guile and malice as children. Infants have but one appetite, namely, for their food; and will be quieted with nothing else; do what you will to them, still the want is felt, and they weep again for their natural food. So we should be with respect to God and his kingdom, and say, let me be a member of it, let me belong to Christ, or I die.

16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

How anxious should parents be that Christ, even now,

would bless their children with pardon, and bestow on them his Holy Spirit.-Edit.

SECTION XXXII.

Chap. x. ver. 17-27.

CHRIST TREATS OF RICHES.

17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him,

He showed an earnest desire to be put in the right way to attain eternal life; but he was lamentably ignorant of what lay lurking in his heart.

17. And [he] asked him, Good Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

He thought of nothing, but of making a ladder of his own works in order to climb up into heaven. But Christ soon showed him that he would not be able by such means to come there.

Remember what he says, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John vi. 29. Get that work done, and all the rest will follow, and be approved of God. Build upon any other foundation, and all you do is of no avail to your salvation.

18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?

How can we think ourselves good, and bear to be called so, when Christ would not? He was all goodness, both as God and man; but as man he would not be called good, showing us all plainly what we are to think of ourselves.

18. There is none good but one, that is, God.

how hard do we find it, at times, to confess the

goodness of God; his long-suffering is, of itself, a demonstration of his goodness.-Edit.

19. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

These are precepts, chiefly relating to our duty towards our neighbour, but they are to be obeyed with a peculiar regard to the authority, and will of God.-Edit.

20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Can any of us say so? Have we ever sat down one hour during the whole of our lives, to consider the meaning of so much as one of these commandments? knowing in our own hearts that we must be judged according to them?

21. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus looked graciously upon him, in order to win his heart, and to induce him to attend to the advice which he in this verse gives him. "Sell whatsoever thou hast." This was a particular command to the young man from Christ's own mouth; and he was obliged to obey it, as we should be, if the same command was given particularly to any one of us. But it is not binding to all men, at all times, and without exception, any more than the command to Abraham to leave his country, or to sacrifice his son. A master may give a command to one servant, which he does not to the rest; and in that case the servant must comply, or throw up his obedience. That which the command says to all, is, be ready: let nothing hinder you from obeying and following Christ: look well to the ground of your hearts. You would part with all to save the life of a husband, a wife, or a child; and if you are not willing to do as much for your souls; if you are not so affected towards Christ, you do not love him.

22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Here the depravity of his heart came into open view. The world had possession of him. If he must part with Christ, he was sorry for it, but with the condition of keeping him he could not comply. How many of the sayings of Christ make us sad, though they are far less hard than this! In some cases how little do they trouble us, and how carelessly do we cast them behind our backs!

23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

It is the same thing when we eagerly covet, and long for them in our hearts; in that case the desire is equally turned from God.

24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Those that trust in riches are puffed up with them, make them their god, and can hardly get into that strait gate with such a load upon their shoulders. You may think it hard to be poor; if so, it is a plain proof that you think little of heaven, else you would thank God for making your way to it so much easier than it is to the wealthy. The general cry is, not in words, but in the heart, let me be rich, take heaven who will. What is the poor man better than the rich, or of what kind is his heart, when he lies and cheats for the gain of a trifle?

25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

Perhaps they meant that if all were not rich, they would be. It is very certain that the same desires make the same men in the sight of God.

27. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God for with God all things are possible.

God can turn the hearts of the rich, and preserve them from trusting in their riches; though it is a hard thing to perform, and they have a heavy clog upon them: for with him all things are possible.

SECTION XXXIII.

Chap. x. ver. 28—45.

CHRIST SPEAKS TO HIS DISCIPLES OF FUTURE REWARDS,—

OF HIS DEATH,—AND of their SUFFERINGS FOR HIM.

28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, have followed thee.

and

Peter, like us, estimated too highly what they had forsaken. He did not sufficiently consider that they had escaped the cares and disappointments of worldly goods, together with their possession.-Edit.

29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel's,

30. But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, bouses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

He shall have an hundred fold, in the true enjoyment of what he hath,—in spiritual comfort, in a heart of love to all,—even though poor and persecuted; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. vi. 10.

31. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Those who are first in their own esteem, and the world's, as being rich and great, shall be last in God's. The poor