Therefore, if we had faith as a grain of mustard seed, we should be able to make progress in our religious course, as the apostle says all Christians ought to do: "walking by faith, and not by sight;" considering things eternal, not things temporal, and "having our conversation in heaven."

22. And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of

men:

23. And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they And they were exceeding sorry.

24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute-money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25. He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?

26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

This is an example of the manner in which the precept may be obeyed, which we read in the sermon on the mount: "If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also." The Christian spirit inclines a man to waive his own privileges, rather than occasion offences or dispute.

The tribute was paid for the use of the sanctuary: therefore it was paid to the King of heaven. The

Son of that King could not be required to pay tribute, according to the known maxim, that kings of the earth take not tribute of their own children. Notwithstanding, said our Lord, lest we should offend them, give unto them for me and thee.

This is the spirit which was recommended by St. Paul, when disputes had arisen among the early Christians, (1 Cor. vi. 7.) "Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity seeketh not her

own."

"Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."

LECTURE XLIV.

HUMILITY RECOMMENDED.-DANGER OF CAUS

ING WEAK BRETHREN TO OFFEND.

MATT. xviii. 1-14.

1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Mark ix. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in

the midst of them,

3. And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be comverted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

33-42. Luke ix. 46-48.

4. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The time to rebuke sinfulness, is when its effects show themselves. These prove what is in the heart. There was nothing in this question of the apostles which betokened a meetness for the kingdom of heaven or a desire of such meetness. So our Lord takes the opportunity, and inculcates a lesson of humility. And, according to a custom often practised by the prophets, he enforces his precept by an emblematical sign. He calls a little child unto him, and sets him in the midst, and says, Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Children care nothing about honours or precedence, because they do not understand them, and are not aware of what may be gained by them. Christians must disregard honours and precedence; not indeed from ignorance of their earthly value, but because their "affections are set upon things above," and because they have a low and modest opinion of themselves.

But how does this example agree with the corruption which we know to belong to the human heart, and which therefore exists in childhood? It does not contradict it. The seed or the root may be an illustration of one thing, and the grown plant or tree of another. Pride, and the love of personal aggrandizement, is natural to the human heart, inasmuch as all selfishness is natural to it. As soon as we come to understand that precedence is desirable for what it procures, then precedence is coveted.

But the Christian learns to "look not on his own things," but to consider also another's advantage: he is also conscious to himself of his own demerit, and therefore he is "in honour preferring another." Except he be thus converted, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven: and in this sense, the apostles still required to be converted. In one sense, they were already converted: their hearts had been turned from this present world, to "seek first the kingdom of God." But though this is done, all is not done: much remainder of sin adheres, which "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting," by persevering watchfulness, and, it may be, by needful rebuke and frequent chastening.

5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be, that offences come: but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. 1

The mention of humility, leads our Lord to consider the humble state in which his disciples shall be; the rudeness with which they will often be pushed aside in the confusion of the world; and

'The meaning of the word offence, and offend, must be borne in mind through the whole of this passage. An offence, is an occasion of falling from the faith. To offend, is to give one, who might otherwise walk uprightly before God, an occasion of stumbling.

dian to every individual of these little ones: but merely confirms what Scripture elsewhere reveals, that the angels who dwell in the presence of God, are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation."

And the argument runs thus. Angels watch over them shall man despise them? Are they little ones? Are they tender in age, humble in condition, or is their faith still weak and wavering? Yet they are not to be despised. Their helplessness does not disparage them in the opinion of their Saviour. Nay, it recommends them to him. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. And ought any to be lightly esteemed, whom he has thus taught us to value? "Through thee," through thy opposition, or thy seduction, or thy neglect, "shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died ?" 4

Further, God looks upon them, now that they are brought into his fold, as a shepherd looks upon a sheep which had gone astray, and been recovered. How then will he be distressed, if one be afterwards decoyed away: be either left to perish through neglect, or wantonly destroyed? For it is not his will, that one of these little ones should perish. He suffers them indeed to undergo temptation, and fall into various trials. It is part of the plan on which he governs the world. But he watches over them and supports them; and has "a crown of life" in store for them, if they "endure unto the end."

• Heb. i. 14.

'See 1 Cor. viii. 11, &c.