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And while they abode in Galilee, Jefus faid unto them, The Son of man fhall be betrayed into the 23 hands of men: And they fhall kill him, and the third day he fhall be raised again: and they were exceeding forry.

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And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute-money, came to Peter, and faid, 25 Doth not your mafter pay tribute (i)? He faith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jefus prevented him, faying, What thinkeft thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take cuftom or tri26 bute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter faith unto him, Of ftrangers. Jefus faith unto him,. 27 Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, left we should offend them (k), go thou to the fea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou haft opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give it unto

them for me and thee.

AT

CHA P. XVIII.

T the fame time came the difciples unto Jefus, faying, Who is the greateft in the kingdom of heaven (a)? And Jefus called a little child unto him, 3 and fet him in the midst of them, And faid, Verily

government, and mortification of all carnal appetites. See Chap.

XXI, 21.

(2) The tribute here mentioned was the yearly offering for the fervice of the temple. As earthly kings exact no tribute from their own children, but from ftrangers only, fo neither, faith our Lord, fhould tribute be exacted from the fon of him to whose honour the temple was erected.

(4) From this inftance we may learn, that it is the duty of a good fubject to pay the taxes impofed by lawful authority, even tho fe fhould fee a reafon why thofe taxes ought not to have been im-pofed.

(a) Who will be greatest when the state of christianity shall be eftablished? See Chap. i, 2.

I fay unto you, Except ye be converted and become. as little children, ye fhall not enter (b) into the 4 kingdom of heaven. Whofoever therefore fhall.

humble himself as this little child (c), the fame is 5 greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whofo fhall. receive one fuch little child in my name, receiveth 6. me. But whofo fhall offend (d) one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a milftone were hanged about his neck, and, that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

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Wo unto the world because of offences: for it muft needs be that offences come (e): but wo to that 8 man by whom the offence cometh. Wherefore (ƒ) if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and caft them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be caft into everlasting fire. And if thine eyes offend thee, pluck it out, and caft it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be caft 10 into hell-fire. Take heed that ye defpife not one of these little ones; for I fay unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my II Father which is in heaven (g). For the Son of man

12 is

(b) Ye cannot be my difciples, or profefs my religion. (c) Innocency and humility are the greateft honour and, perfection, in the character of a Chriflian.

(d) To offend fignifies to obftruct the falvation of any one by leading him into error or fin. And thus likewife the word is to be underflood, in the following verfes, for whatever is an hindrance or impediment to us in our chriftian courfe. Luke xvii. 1.

(e) In the prefent flate of the world it cannot be expected, but that virtue and religion will meet with much oppofition: But wretched is that man, and dreadful will be his punishment, who is any way the occasion of it, either by perfuafion, enticement, or bad example,

(f) See Chap. v. 29.

(g) God's providence perpetually watcheth over the leaft and the meaneft of the children of men; the holy angels who ftand before

D 6

the

12 is come (b) to fave that which was loft. How think ye? if a man have an hundred fheep, and one of them be gone aftray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and feeketh 13 that which is gone aftray (i)? And if fo be that he find it, Verily I fay unto you, he rejoiceth more of that Sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not 14 aftray. Even fo it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of thefe little ones fhould perish.

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Moreover, if thy brother fhall trefpass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone (k): if he fhall hear thee, thou haft gained thy 16 brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witneffes every word may be established. 17 And if he fhall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the

the face of God, that is, who continually enjoy his glorious prefence, being miniftering fpirits to execute the divine commands for their protection and benefit. If little children then be thus the care of heaven, we furely ought to think no condefcenfion too great whereby we can do them any good, whether by religious education, or profitable example. But let us obferve further on this paffage, that the angels being the meffengers of God, and employed by him for the fervice- of mortals, are not the objects of our worship; which is to be paid to God alone, who is both their Lord and

ours.

(h) Not only are the angels thus employed, but it was the very purpofe for which even the Son of God came into the world, to seek. and bring back them who had ftrayed away.

(i) See Luke xv. 3.

(k) Harbour not in your minds the fpirit of revenge, or refentment; but endeavour to make any one who has offended you fenfible of his fault by every means of prudence and chriftian charity: first privately between yourselves; or if a reconciliation cannot be brought about by private admonition, then defire one or two more, by whofe advice the party offending may probably be governed; and if that fails, but not otherwife, you may apply to the publick. for redrefs.

church:

church (1) but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a pub18 lican. Verily I fay unto you, Whatsoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven (m): and whatsoever ye fhall loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in 19 heaven. Again I fay unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they fhall afk, it fhall be done for them (n) of my Father 20 which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midft of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and faid, Lord, how oft fhall my brother fin againft me, and I forgive 22 him? till feven times? Jefus faith unto him, I fay not unto thee, Until feven times: but, until feventy times feven ().

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

(1) To the church, or fociety of your Chriftian brethren. And any perfon, who refufeth to conform, in the great duties of morality, to the general fenfe of his fellow Chriftians, is no longer worthy to be accounted a member of their body; but ought to be put out from it, and his company to be avoided, as the Jews avoid that of a hea then, and Roman tax-gatherer. See Chap. v. 46.

(m) Whatsoever fhall be thus wifely and folemnly determined, the fentence, whether of forgivencfs on the one hand, or of punishment on the other, will be approved and ratified in heaven. Ob ferve, that the fame power of binding and loofing which was granted to St. Peter, Chap. xvi. 19. is here vefted in the body of the church affembled together to enforce order and difcipline, and to decide difputes in worldly matters among Chriftians, according to St. Paul's injunction, 1 Cor. vi. 1, 4. whilft the civil magiftrates were enemies to chriftianity.

(n) For God is always ready to grant the prayers of a very fmall number of his fervants: how much more then in a cafe of this importance ?

(0) Our forgiveness of each other muft be unlimited, both as to the number and the nature of the injuries done; and the mercy which we defire at the hands of God, is the rule and example we we must follow..

24 fervants.

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24 fervants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand 25 talents (p). But forafmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be fold, and his wife and children (q), and all that he had, and payment to be 26 made. The fervant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that fervant was moved with compaffion, and loofed him, and forgave 28 him the debt. But the fame fervant went out, and found one of his fellow-fervants, which owed him an hundred pence (r): and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, faying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow-fervant fell down at his feet, and befought him, faying, Have patience with me, and I 30 will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and 31 caft him into prifon, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow-fervants faw what was done, they were very forry, and came and told unto their lord 32 all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, faid unto him, O thou wicked fervant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou defiredft me : 33 Shouldeft not thou alfo have had compaffion on thy 34 fellow-fervant, even as I had pity on thee? And his

lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormen

(p) The value of a talent is about 1871. 10s. English money. Our Lord ftates the fervant's debt at this vast fum, to fhew the infinite mercy of God, who is ready to forgive the greatest offences upon true repentance.

(4) Among the Jews the creditor had this power over an infolvent debtor. See 2 Kings iv. 1.

(r) The Roman penny was about 7d. English; and by the fum here mentioned, which is but the feven hundred thoufandth part of the former debt, we may learn how infinitely lefs our offences against each other are, than thofe which we commit against God: yet he is. gracious and merciful, long-fuffering, and of great goodness; for his compaffions fail not: whereas, we are on the contrary eafily pro voked, full of refentment, and revenging to the utmoft the flighteft offences committed by our fellow-creatures.

tors,

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