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yet shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven. Let all then judge themselves by the marks exhibited in the holy scriptures. Let them enquire whether, if the separation were at this instant to be made, they should be found among those that are truly alive to God, or those who, though they "have a name to live, are really dead" before God. Let it be remembered that we are now inclosed in the net; and that, though we do not immediately perceive it, the net is at this moment drawing to shore. Speedily will the scrutiny be made; and then the final separation. May God prepare us for that awful day, by renewing our natures, and accepting us in his beloved Son!

1 Rev. iii. 1:'

CCXLI. THE HOUSEHOLDER.

Matt. xiii. 52. Every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

IT is of importance to all, but especially to those who are to teach others, that they understand clearly the mysteries of the gospel

An ignorant minister, like a leaky vessel, disappoints those who expect consolation from him

But a well instructed Scribe or minister resembles a housekeeper or steward, who, having made good provision for the family, feeds them to the full

With this comparison our Lord encouraged his attentive and intelligent disciples

The resemblance of every such minister to an householder may be traced in that

I. He is provided with all things necessary for the family over whom he is placed

A steward, or householder, has the charge of providing for the family

He considers not only what is wanting at the present moment, but what will be wanted on future occasionsAnd he preserves for future use the productions of foreign clines, or of succeeding seasons

Thus every pious minister labours to provide for the church of God

1. He makes himself acquainted with the wants of all his people

[The church, over which he is made an overseer, is God's family

To supply their returning wants is his peculiar duty-
Hence he is led to reflect upon their various states-

He contemplates the duties and dangers, the trials and temptations, the supports and consolations experienced by each

And thus endeavours to learn what will be most suitable to their respective cases-]

2. He lays up in store what he may afterwards bring forth for their use

[The scriptures are the grand repository of sacred knowledge

These therefore he searches with diligence, and “treasures” up with care

But while he furnishes his mind with "old things," he is observant also of "new" —

What he daily sees, or hears, or feels, is added carefully to his stock-.

Thus his knowledge becomes tempered and matured by experience

And his fund of information is suited to the necessities of all to whom he ministers-]

In prosecuting his work

II. He dispenses seasonably to each according to their respective wants

A householder or steward, furnishes out of his store what is wanted for daily use

And apportions to all the branches of the family what is suited to their respective stations—

Thus a well-instructed minister demeans himself in the church of Christ

1. He gives to all an aggreeable variety

[Though Christ and his salvation be the great topic of his discourses, he descends, on proper occasions, to many other subjects connected with it

He opens the mysteries of the "Old" Testament, and illustrates them by the "New"

He declares what God has asserted in his word, and confirms it by daily observation and experience

And though it is not grievous to him to repeat acknowledged truths, he endeavours continually to represent them in a new point of view-]

2. He administers to each his proper portion

[To those whose growth in grace enables them to digest strong meat, he explains the deep mysteries of religionTo those who can only feed on milk, he contents himself with proposing simply our fall in Adam, and our recovery by Christ

He considers the peculiar experiences incident to different states, and discriminates between that which is good and bad in each

He gives the cup of consolation to the drooping penitent, or doubting believer, but holds forth the waters of jealousy to those who are of suspicious character

Thus neither disabled by ignorance nor withheld by sloth, neither bribed by affection nor deterred by fear, he "gives to each his portion of bread in due season"]

INFER

1. The vast importance of the ministerial office

[If we had only to provide for the body, it were but a small matter

But the souls of thousands depend on those who minister in holy things

Well may we say, "Who is sufficient for these things?”. May all who have undertaken the office of the ministry, have grace to qualify themselves for it with diligence, and to execute it with fidelity!-]

2. The benefit arising from it to the church

[How ill supplied would every member of a family be, if each were left to provide for himself!

And how injurious would such a distraction be to their respective callings!

Much more would these inconveniences be felt, if there were no stated ministry

Let all then be thankful that the Master of the family has appointed stewards to make suitable provision for them— Let them pray that their ministers may be taught of God to teach others

And let them improve with diligence the ordinances dispensed among them-]

Numb. v. 11-31.

b 2 Cor. ii. 16.

CCXLII. THE NEW WINE AND OLD BOTTLES.

Luke v. 36-38. And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old: if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

THE cavils of objectors have been frequently overruled for the benefit of the church-They have given rise to many of our Lord's most instructive discourses, and thereby furnish us with a much clearer and more extensive knowledge of our duty-Thrice in this chapter do we see our Lord called upon to answer the objections that were either secretly entertained or openly expressed against him-His forgiving of sins, and associating with sinners had given offence; but he vindicated his conduct with respect to both, and has afforded us herein a rich discovery of his power and grace-In the context he was condemned for leaving his disciples so much at liberty respecting the duty of fasting-In reply to the queries put to him on this subject, he delivered the parables which we have now read-The substance of them will be brought to your view, while we shew

I. For what ends, and to what extent, austerities are to be practised under the gospel dispensation

The austerities referred to in the text are fasting and solemn seasons of humiliation and prayera—

These are certainly necessary under the Christian dispensation

[Our Lord does not say that the children of the bridechamber were never to fast, but only, not while the bridegroom was with them-Nor in the parables before us does he say that the old garment should not be mended, nor the wine put into bottles at all, but only that discretion was to be exercised with respect to the manner of doing these things--These intimations alone were sufficient to establish the propriety of practising the duty there spoken of; but they are enforced by many other passages of holy scripture-Our Lord gives direc

a Ver. 33.

b Ver. 34.

tions respecting our behaviour when we fast; and indeed expressly says that, after his removal from them, his disciples should fastd

But the necessity for such austerities exists only in a certain view and to a certain extent

[We are not to suppose that the practice of austerities constitutes any part of religion itself-Nor can they merit any thing, as the papists imagine; nor should they be multiplied after human inventions-Nor indeed should we so practise them as to injure our health, or to induce a neglect of our social duties They are to be regarded only as the scaffold to the building, or the means to the end-The intent of them is, to subdue our appetites, and to bring our thoughts and desires into obedience to Christ-There are indeed particular occasions, which demand peculiar abstinence and self-deniale-As there are seasons for holy feasting and joy, so are there also for fasting and sorrow-Wisdom and sincerity are requisite for the forming a right judgment respecting these things-But rightly understood, and duly practised, they will conduce much to our advancement in true piety.]

The caution given respecting them in the text leads us to observe, that

II. However proper they are in their place, yet an injudicious attempt to enfore the practice of them will injure rather than subserve the interests of religion The enjoining of austerities is injudicious, if it be either unseasonable or unsuitable for the persons on whom they are imposed.

[It would, as our Lord observes, be unseasonable to mourn at a wedding feast: and it would be unsuitable to patch a piece of new and harsh cloth on a garment that was old and rent; or to put a strong fermenting wine into old leathern bottlesThus the prescribing of difficult and severe duties to a young convert would be unsuitable, because he cannot be supposed to have attained strength sufficient for the performance of them-] An attempt to impose them under such circumstances will do an injury to religion

1. It will give wrong notions of religion itself

[The world is ready enough to take up bad impressions of religion, however wisely it be described, or faithfully practised

c Matt. vi. 16-18.

e Matt. xvii. 21. 1 Cor. vii. 5.

d Ver. 35.

f Eccl. iii. 4.

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