in order that they might have an opportunity of witnessing the miracles of Christ, and of being brought to believe in him, instead of continuing to be (as perhaps they were) jealous of his rising reputation. READER. He departed thence to teach and to preach.-The Lord Jesus did not discontinue his own labours after having assigned employment to his Apostles. He was not weary of going about doing good. Heard in prison the works of Christ. -Thus St. Paul heard, with joy, of the success of the Gospel while he was in bonds. May the sound of the Gospel reach and cheer us in seasons of affliction or distress! He sent two of his disciples. Thus should ministers always send their people to Christ himself.-And thus should all those who know the power and value of the Gospel endeavour to bring all who belong to them to a saving and happy acquaintance with the Saviour. Art thou he that should come, i. e. the coming, or, as we should say, the expected, -Messiah?-Let us not omit, as occasion may require, to use the help of serious inquiry, meditation, and prayer, for the strengthening of our faith. The things that ye do hear and see. -The works of Christ bore witness to his character and office. Let our works, wrought by the imparted power of the Holy Spirit, testify in our favour as Christians. The poor have the Gospel preached unto them.-See Isa. Ixi. 1; Matt. v. 2-12. Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me,-who shall not stumble at me, shall not refuse to believe in me because I may not be such as he desires, or such as he had expected. Alas, Christ, in his person, his doctrine, or his work, becomes even now a stumbling-block to many, through their own evil hearts, love of sin, and wilful blindness. See Luke ii. 34; 1 Pet. ii. 8. As they departed,-when they had just left. This commendation of John was not given in the presence of his disciples. It was praise, not flattery; it was truth and justice, not the weakness of blind or excessive admiration. He began to say unto the multitudes concerning John.-The sum of what our Lord said concerning the Baptist is this: that he was a man of firm principle and consistent character,-that he led a sober and simple life, without affectation of high things, or display of a worldly mind, -and that he was (as he had announced himself) the forerunner of the Messiah.-Why then did they not believe his testimony, corroborated as it was by our Saviour's personal ministry and work? What went ye out for to see?-Men will be questioned concerning their real intentions and aims in frequenting places of worship, and using means of grace. More than a prophet.-Christ is not ashamed of his faithful servants, even when they are in prison or distress. John had humbled himself, and had done honour to Christ (ch. iii. 11; John iii. 29, 30); now he begins to be exalted.-Is not this a beautiful, though partial, illustration and fulfilment of our Saviour's promise in the last chapter, v. 32?John was indeed more than any of the ancient prophets, inasmuch as he was himself a subject of prophecy (Isa. xl. 3; Mal. iii. 1);-he bore witness to the fulfilment of their predictions; and saw that which they only desired to see. He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.-The weakest preacher of a complete salvation, who declares the finished work of the crucified, risen, and ascended Redeemer, has a higher office and a more excellent ministry than his immediate forerunner.-How great a privilege and happiness to preach, and to hear, the glad tidings of their Gospel, in all their clearness, simplicity, and fulness! And yet even the best men, the most enlightened Christians, in this state of infirmity and imperfection, fall short of the happiness and glory of saints in heaven. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. The ministry of John was made effectual, for the conversion and reformation of large multitudes of persons, many of whom once seemed unlikely to become servants of God.-Let us not despair of the most profligate and abandoned. Nor let the greatest sinner, who desires to return to God, despair of pardon and acceptance.-We must ourselves use a holy violence in entering the gate," and "give all diligence to make our calling and election sure." While we depend on the merits and grace of Christ, we must use honest, zealous, and persevering efforts in the ways of godliness. Prophesied until John,-continued to be the means of instruction for the church. If ye will receive it,-if ye are willing to receive it. Want of will, rather than the want of power and occasion, is the cause of unbelief. This is Elias.-See Luke i. 17.May the words of divine truth, and the dispensations of providence, be so many Elijahs,—and "make ready a people prepared for the Lord!" to us as kingdom of heaven. We must liken this generation? It is like "strive to enter in at the strait unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their | it shall be more tolerable for the fellows, land of Sodom in the day of 17 And saying, We have judgment, than for thee. piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented, 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publi cans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. p Luke vii. 31.-g ch. ix. 10. r Luke vii. 35.- Luke x. 13, &c.- Jonah iii. 7, 8.-u ch. x. 15, ver. 24.-z See Is. xiv. 13. Lam. ii. 1.-y ch. x. 15. READER. It is like unto children, &c.-By this similitude, our Saviour points out the inconsistency of the Jews, and their perverse opposition to ungodliness, under every form. Neither our Lord's own mild and be nignant conduct, nor the more austere manner of John, could win their affections; neither piping nor mourning could excite their sympathy. When the heart loves sin and error, it is prepared to resist the appeals of the Holy Spirit under every variety of form.-God mercifully employs sometimes promises to excite our hopes, sometimes threatenings to arouse our fears; sometimes he sends prosperity, and sometimes he visits us with adversity. This manifold and variegated wisdom and grace of God are brought to bear upon us, in order that we may be suitably affected, and that our wills may be brought into a But awful and dangerous is the procompliance with the divine will. 22 But I say unto you, "It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judg-pensity of evil men to thwart or conment, than for you. tradict the conduct and revelation of 23 And thou, Capernaum, God under all circumstances what which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, "That ever. And they say he hath a devil.Alas, how often does it happen that when men refuse to receive the message of God, they revile and find fault with his messenger! Gluttonous, and a winebibber.— What malice and impiety! How ought this to encourage us to bear reproaches patiently! See 1 Pet. ii. 19-25. A riend of publicans and sinners.This was true in the best sense, and to the eternal honour of redeeming love. See Luke xv. But wisdom is justified of her children.-The children of wisdom, i.e. believers in Christ and the Gospel, justify wisdom, i.e. bear witness to the excellence and power of the object of their faith. "They comply with the designs of Christ's grace, answer the intentions of it, are suitably affected with the various methods which it takes, and so evince the wisdom of Christ in taking these methods." See Rom. i. 16; 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done.-The means of grace abound more in some places than in others.-God keeps account of the religious privileges, and the motives and calls to repentance and godliness, which he bestows upon us. We may be careful about our advantages and opportunities of good; but God remembers them, knows their value, and considers our responsibility and duty. See Isa. v. 1-7. | probably near it.-Neglected privileges and means of grace increase the condemnation of the impenitent. Tyre and Sidon.-See Ezek. xxvi. 27, 28. Exalted unto heaven,-highly favoured with the presence of Christ, and as the scene of many of his miracles:-brought down to hell,-to extreme desolation.-We are now "exalted to heaven" by the possession of the Gospel and Christian privileges. But the abuse of those privileges sinks men to destruction. See Heb. xii. 25-29. It shall be more tolerable.—There will be various degrees of punishment in the world to come. A wicked Christian will be more severely condemned than a wicked heathen. His sin is greater; especially his sin of unbelief. answered and said, I thank thee.Acquiescence in the will, wisdom, and goodness of God brings great relief to the mind when wearied and pained with considering the sin and ruin of ungodly men. O Father, such is his goodness, bounty, and love, Lord of heaven and earth, such his sovereignty, majesty, and power. Thou hast hid these things."God is not the author of their ignorance and error, but he leaves them to themselves and their sin becomes their punishment, and the Lord is righteous in it." See John 26 Even so, Father: for so it xii. 39, 40; Rom. xi. 7, 8; Acts seemed good in thy sight. xxviii. 26, 27. ≈ Luke x. 21. a See Ps. viii. 2. 1 Cor. i. 19, 27; & ii. 8. 2 Cor. iii. 14. b ch. xvi. 17.-c ch. xxviii. 18. Luke x. 22. John iii. 35; & xiii. 3; & xvii. 2. 1 Cor. xv. 27. d John i. 18; & vi. 46; & x. 15.-e John xiii. 15. Phil. ii. 5. 1 Pet. ii. 21. 1 John ii. 6. f Zech. ix. 9. Phil. ii. 7, 8. g Jer. vi. 16.-h 1 John v. 3. READER. At that time, Jesus The wise and prudent,—babes.— Gospel truth is more or less hidden from men who think themselves wise, who idolize their intellect, and indulge in spiritual pride and self-conceit; see 1 Cor. i. 21; 1 Tim. vi. 20.-It is disclosed to persons of upright minds, and simple hearts, who humbly desire to be instructed James iv. 6. and guided by heavenly wisdom. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.-Under all the dispensations which we may witness and in which we may be called to share, may we have grace to yield this willing obedience, and to render this due honour, to the great and sovereign Disposer of events! All things are delivered unto me of my Father.-Such is the glory of Christ as Mediator. The Father has delivered the government of all things into the hands of the Son, who has taken the manhood into God.-Let |