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to her an entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Such a privilege comes not, like human honours or worldly wealth, "of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man ;" those that are most privileged on earth may be least in the favour of God; whilst those that are last, may become first.

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Our Lord saw fit to leave this truth on record, because there is a tendency among men to overlook it, and think more highly than they ought to think of outward privileges. On another occasion, as he was speaking, so speaking, that " the people were astonished at his doctrine,"-a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it." And now he declares the same. He stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. The disciples, concerning whom he spoke these comforting words, were doing the will of his Father. The Father's will was that they should hear his Son, as the voice from heaven declared: "This is my beloved Son; hear him.” When some asked, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" the answer was, "This is the work of God," the work that God requires of you," that ye believe in him whom he hath sent." These, therefore, which "sat about him," and towards whom he stretched forth his hand, were fulfilling the will of his Father

2

8 John i. 13.

1 Mark ix. 7.

1

9 Luke xi. 27, 28.

↑ John vi. 28.

T

which is in heaven.

And Jesus looks on them, as men look on those who are united to them by the dearest and closest ties; the bonds of parentage, or family. He is interested in their welfare, as he expressed in the strongest terms, when at another time he said, "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." He protects them by his power; as he declared, saying, "They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." That kindness which is shown towards their relatives, men take as if shown to themselves; and so Jesus said, "Whosoever shall give unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, he shall not lose his reward." 5 "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He provides for them, as he did provide for her who was actually his mother. As she stood disconsolate by his cross, he pointed her out to his beloved disciple, saying, "Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home." " And so likewise he has provided, by his commandments, that his poor disciples shall be cared for and relieved; that "they who have this world's good, and see their brethren have need, shall open their bowels of compassion to them.” 7

Thus he treats those who do the will of his heavenly Father; and gives the strongest encourage

3 Ch. xviii. 7.

5 Ch. x. 42; xxv. 45.

4 John x. 27

6 John xix. 26.

7 1 John. iii. 17.

ment to all to whom the gospel is revealed. He puts within their reach that privilege, which might otherwise seem too great to be enjoyed. He brings them into that relationship to himself, which is the nearest and tenderest on earth. He regards them as brethren. He cherishes them as parents. Not from any outward circumstances of advantage, which might be possessed by one, but could not be possessed by all: but for a reason which may belong to every disciple, My mother and my brethren are those that hear the word of God, and keep it.

LECTURE LIX.

DANGER OF NEGLECTING OPPORTUNITIES.

MATT. xiii. 1—17.

1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7. And some fell among thorns: and the thorns sprung up, and choked them :

8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

If land which has been long cultivated, makes no return to the husbandman, he abandons it, and employs his pains elsewhere. On the land which hath, which brings good produce, he bestows more abundant labour; from the land which hath not, which bears no fruit, he takes away the labour which he had used on it before. St. Paul supplies this illustration to explain the dealings of God with men.1 He exhorts his countrymen to use diligence in "working out their salvation," and to “ go on unto perfection," from this very argument, saying, that "the earth which drinketh in the rain which falleth oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is, to be burned."

And this latter case, of barrenness, of neglected opportunities, of means of grace refused, had been

Heb. vi. 7, 8.

the case of the Jewish nation throughout their history. Spiritual advantages had belonged to them which belonged to no other people; and now they were withdrawn, having been altogether neglected and abused, on the same principle as in the parable of the talents, the talent is taken from the unprofitable servant, and given to the diligent servant who had made the most of what was entrusted to him.2 "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" when to him who hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not,-has nothing to show in return for the privileges which he has enjoyed, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

17. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

A difference is here noted between the disciples and the rest of their countrymen. Blessed are your

2 Matt xxv. 28.

3 Is. vi. 10.

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