make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 20 A most affecting picture this, of the blessedness which follows a deep and hearty repentance *. 25 Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew nigh to the house, 22 The prodigal had "confessed his sin ;" and God, his Father, was "faithful and just to forgive him his sins," according to his word. 25 The Jew-the elder brothermurmured that the Gentile was admitted with him to all the privileges of sonship and inheritance. he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, It 31"From the beginning, Thou hast been with me"-" I, too, have been with thee by my prophets and my spirit. Thou hast ever been with me, and called by my name." (Is. lxiii. 19.) thou art ever with me, and In how striking and instructive a manner is God's care for our souls here displayed. Because there is in man a power of destroying by sin that soul which God would fain be preserved in holiness here, and in So we humbly trust, that as soon as an erring soul resolves by divine grace to return into the way of righteousness, that resolve is instantly met by the Spirit of God, and the very first thought of penitence has the blessing of heaven-"Seen yet a great way off." happiness for ever, he watches over that power, with unceasing vigilance, even as a shepherd over his flock; by night and by day, in our darkest sorrow, and our brightest hour of joy. O let us, like the prodigal, feel our own unworthiness, and henceforth serve him in filial love and reverence, till he call us to our inheritance in heaven. CHAPTER XVI. MARCH 5, JULY 4, OCT. 30. AND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig, to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, an hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser ' And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if 9 8 8 Observe! the guilt of injustice in this steward remains: though it is impossible not to give him credit for worldly wisdom *. than the children of light. 9 What worldly advantages you have-wealth, power, influence-use them to the honour of God, and the welfare of your fellow-creatures; lest, not faithful as a steward of God's bounty for others, you be faithless in the care of that greater treasure wherewith he hath entrusted thee for thyself-thine own immortal soul The worldly wisdom which he applied in order to extricate himself from temporal difficulties, is instructive, as furnishing us with a useful lesson, applicable to the means we must adopt in the management of our spiritual concerns-even by a right use of that heavenly wisdom, which is free to us all. ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. 19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: 13 You are now serving God in his house of prayer. Lay aside then the service of the world. Let not thoughts of care or pleasure now disturb you. he will hold to the one, and 14 So now the faithful in Christ, whether minister or people-how often are they mocked and derided! Yet, like their Master, they must go on, boldly witnessing to the truth. 19 Having reproved the Pharisees, he proceeds with his discourse, touching the use of worldly advantages. 22 If each lead holy and righteous lives, "rich and poor meet together" in heaven. The poor and afflicted Lazarus rests with the rich and princely Abraham •. the rich man also died and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip The The eternal state of Dives and Lazarus is in awful contrast. difference, however, was caused neither by the riches of the one, nor the poverty of the other; but by the difference of their lives in their several conditions. Lazarus bore his misery and indigence in a truly religious spirit of patient submission to the will of God. Dives was hardened against the sufferings of others, abused the good gifts which heaven had bestowed upon him, lived to this world, and died reckless of the next. the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 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. 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. 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. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses 28 Do you set a good, or a bad ex. ample to your family?—Pause ; and consider, that a bad example may bring others also to the place of tor ment. If you care not for yourself, you care for them!!-What an affect ing picture of unavailing remorse have we in this wicked Dives! and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 We are apt to fancy, that if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, and had seen Him; we should have had a more lively faith in Himor if God would permit us to see the angels which minister to us, that we should have a more spiritual, evena But this is self-deception. We have heavenly disposition towards Him. ample testimony for a humble mind--and for a proud mind no testimony is sufficient. CHAPTER XVII. MARCH 6, JULY 5, OCT. 31. 1 Though evil will always prevail to a certain extent, theirs is a heavy sin, who either by precept or ex. ample, by disbelief or cavilling, cause others to go aside from the path of truth. THEN said he unto his disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 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. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 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 3 This decisive conduct is as wise as it is holy. It is by brooding over offence and injury, that anger and revenge so often get the mastery. forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 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. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things All spiritual difficulties vanish before a resolved faith. 10 As the servant is bound to do his master's will, so are we bound to do the will of God: and yet claim neither merit, nor thanks. which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed ? but where are the nine? their state, and therefore sought re13 The lepers felt the misery of lief. We must first feel the misery of sin-its wages, death. Surely, then, we shall gladly seek its remedy. 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, 18 If there be one fault of character more base than another, it is that of ingratitude. 20" My kingdom is not of this world: its coming therefore is not attended with outward show.” save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way : thy faith hath made thee whole. 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation : 21 neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is 21 It is only when we obey the laws of Christ, that we feel Him to be our king. |