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tended to hinder the good from reproving the evil; but shews us that we must be clear of evil in ourselves when we reprove others, else the guilt of hypocrisy will be, and is by Christ cast upon us, and laid at our door. We are more to look at our own failings, than at the failings of others; and to take special care that we are clear of that which we reprove others for; and is it not deceit, to set up for reformers of others, when there are great defects in ourselves? It is too general a fault in poor mortals to be quicker sighted to see the faults of others, than their own. It is worthy reciting our Saviour's words to the Jews, who brought the woman taken in adultery, to him, and told him, by their law she ought to die; he answers, "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone at her." So they being guilty, and convicted of sin in their own consciences, left her to Christ, and went their way and when we have done what we can to convince others of sin, we must leave them to Christ at last; whether we are in sin, or without it; but we shall be the better able to help to reform others, if we are clear from guilt in our own hearts.

"Give not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you." Verse 6.

When we see the biting and persecuting nature, and dirty, selfish spirit of men, it is to little purpose, generally, to cast before them the precious pearl of truth, or to shew unto them the deep mysteries of the kingdom of God, or the light of life, they being in a brutish spirit; but when people are sober, and show forth humanity and moderation, then are holy things valuable to them, and the things of Christ's kingdom, and his doctrine, precious in their eyes, or esteem. Wherefore it greatly behoveth Christ's ministers to minister that to the people which is suitable for them, and rightly to divide between the precious and the vile, and to give to every one their portion, according to their deeds; mercy to whom mercy, and judgement to whom judgement belongs; without partiality, and without hypocrisy, or deceit; and not to flatter and daub those who are in the doggish and swinish nature.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Verse 7. "For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened." Verse 8.

"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" Verse 9.

"Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent ?" Verse 10.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Verse 11.

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Our kind and tender Redeemer would stir up and provoke souls to prayer and supplication; he has been lib. eral in his holy advice; and to stir us up to it, here are moving expressions, if thy heart be open to receive them. Can we have easier terms if we were to make them ourselves with the Lord, than to ask, and have; seek, and find; knock, and the gates are opened; provided we ask in faith tenderly, and seek in humility, and knock with divine wisdom and submission? Lord's own practice shows that we should be tender, submissive, and fervent in prayer; and then the fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much with the Lord. Christ urgeth us to it, and brings ourselves for example. "What man is there among you, who if his son ask bread, or a fish, will he give him a stone, or a serpent?" Surely no: no father would deal thus with his child; but when his child is hungry, and wants and asks bread, he gives it to him: so when the Almighty sees our hunger, and we tenderly seek divine assistance and refreshment from him, he, in his own time, satisfies such souls with bread from above, and the thirsty with living water out of the wells of salvation: Oh! blessed be his holy name for evermore. Evil men know how to give good things to their children, therefore we may well conclude that our heavenly Father knows how to give with much more discretion and understanding the good things

of his kingdom, to true asking, seeking, knocking or praying souls.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." Verse 12.

Well may this be called the golden rule; for if we square our lives and actions by it, it will certainly mete us out the true way to happiness and glory. We are generally apt to say, when any one doth ill to another, "Would he be willing to be served so himself?" And if we follow this rule in all our concerns, it would be well; whether in relation to public or private business; whether in trade or religion, or in our domestic affairs: the law and the prophets point at it, and our Saviour plainly lays it down as a rule for us to walk by.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat." Verse 13.

"Because strait is the gait, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be who find it." Verse 14.

It is afflicting to consider how natural it is for people to walk in this broad way, and they who walk in it are many; for here is room for people to walk if they are proud, whoremongers, adulterers, thieves, swearers, liars, drunkards, covetous, or in any other evil course of life, this broad way hath room enough in it for them to walk in; but let them know, it leadeth to destruction, and the end is eternal misery, and their many companions will administer no consolation to them, when they lift up their eyes in hell. And whereas the way that leads to life is called strait, it is only strait to flesh and blood, or the will of unregenerate men: Oh! it is a pleasant way, exceeding pleasant, when brethren walk together in love and unity. The enemy of mankind would persuade souls, that it is narrower than it really is, when they have some faint inclinations to make trial of it. It may truly be said, "Blessed are the undefiled in this strait and narrow way, who walk in the law of the Lord:" For, "His ways

are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are peace." And although the way to the kingdom was strait and narrow, yet there are hills and vallies therein as well as plains, until we get through the gate of glory: there shall we know no more sorrow, nor pain; but shall praise and glorify God and the Lamb forever.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's cloathing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Verse 15.

"Ye, shall know them by their fruits; do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?" Verse 16.

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit ; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."

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"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Verse 18.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Verse 19.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Verse 20.

The great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls shews the care which he takes of his sheep, and forewarns them to be careful of false prophets, and deceivers; who though they may clothe themselves with words like the true ones, yet inwardly they would destroy all who do not join with, or receive them; and they are for biting the poor harmless sheep of Christ, and if they could, or it were in their power, would devour them, their minds being in the ravening nature. But our holy, and all-wise Bishop, that we might be preserved from them, tells us how we may infallibly know them; saying, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," giving us to understand the reasonableness of his doctrine and assertion of knowing them by their fruits. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles," says Christ? Surely no. That is altogether unnatural, as well as unreasonable and impossible. In the grape there is a sweet and pleasant nourishment, those fruits being cordial and wholesome; but it is bad meddling with thistles and thorns, they being generally very unprofitable to man

kind, and hurt the good seed wherever they grow among it. Well, where must we go for the grapes and the figs? To be sure we must go to the vine, and the figtree Christ is the body of this vine, and his people are the branches, who bring forth such fruit (according to the divine life or sap which they receive) as he taught, and teaches to his followers. So that if men's words be like the words of angels, if they have never so great parts and endowments; yet if their fruit be evil, if they live in sin, and do iniquity, and bring forth the fruits of malice and rage, or devouring persecution, they then are none of Christ's sheep, though they may have their cloathing: "For every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; and a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." So if the fruit be evil, the tree is certainly corrupt.

Our Lord elsewere saith, "Make the tree good, and the fruit will be good also: and to be made truly good (since we are all corrupt by `nature, and in the fall), we must be cut off from that nature, and grafted into Christ, who said, "I am the vine, and ye are the branches ;" and then our lives and fruits will be changed. And then, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor can a cor. rupt tree bring forth good fruit: and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." It would be very unnatural, and a mere prodigy, for one tree to hew down another, and cast it into the fire, as they are natural trees: but that ax (which John speaks of) will be laid to the roots of the corrupt trees, and will hew them down, and they will be cast into the fire, as Christ speaks. This is not a destroying the bodies of men that Christ speaks of, but an inward work in the soul, shewing the powerful nature of the dispensation of the gospel of Christ, which is not material cutting, or burning with material fire, or sword: but Christ's word is a fire and sword to cut down and burn up the evil nature in man. The apostle confirms this doctrine of his master thus, "He that doth righteousness is righteous, but he that sinneth is of the devil." The apostle is plain and full, as is Christ, who repeats his doctrine over again, with, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

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