as we do of the secret counsels of God, does it become either you or I, to guess why they are so afflicted? No. Has not your Saviour said, 66 Yes. Judge not and ye shall not be judged ?" Instead of judging when your neighbour is afflicted, what is it your positive duty to do towards him or her? To pity and relieve their wants and necessities by every means in our power. Have you it not in your power while children, to shew kindness and attention? Yes. Teacher. In the concluding part of the Gospel, the Scribes in their own thoughts accuse your Saviour of blaspheming, because He had told the man his sins were forgiven him. Your Saviour knew their thoughts as soon as they were formed, "Wherefore," says He, "think ye evil in your hearts?” A warning is this, how careful you ought to be in giving way to bad thoughts, your thoughts are as well known to Him at the present moment as were those of the Scribes and Pharisees, eighteen hundred years ago. Look for the 11th and 12th verses in the new version of the 119th Psalm, and let me advise all of you to learn them by heart; and not only learn them, but repeat them frequently. 11 Safe in my heart, and closely laid, Thy word, my treasure lies, To succour me with timely aid 12 Secured by that, my grateful soul, O teach me then by Thy just laws Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. ST. MATTHEW, xxii. 1. "Jesus said, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage for his son; and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them who are bidden, Behold I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, come unto the marriage." Teacher. This parable is intended to shew the invitation God had given to the Jews to become Christians, before any other people were invited to share in so great a blessing; it shews also, that after their rejection of this offer, the Gentiles, or heathen were called in. The people of this country were heathens, and worshipped idols, till some good Christians from the east, came and instructed them in the precepts and doctrines of Christianity Questions. What is this parable intended to shew? The invitation given by God to the Jews to become Christians. Did He invite the Jews before any other people? Yes. After they had rejected that offer, to whom did He then make it? To the heathens. What were the people of this country at that time? Heathens. Heathens. And what did they worship? Idols. Where did those good Christians come from, who instructed our idolatrous forefathers in the precepts and doctrines of Christianity? From the east. Teacher. Precepts mean advice as to your conduct in life, such as "Fear God and honour the king," —and, “ Do unto all men as you would they should do unto you." Doctrines mean matters of faith, or belief, such as, that your Saviour came to redeem that the sacrifice of Himself was accepted by God; that He arose from the dead; and the other articles of the apostles' creed. you; Questions. What is a precept? Advice as to our conduct in life. What instances have I given of a precept? Fear God and honour the king. What other? Do unto all men as you would they should do unto you. What is the meaning of doc trines? Matters of faith, or belief. What is the first I mentioned? That our Saviour came to redeem us. What the next? That the sacrifice of Himself was accepted by God, &c. Are not these a part of the articles of belief acknowledged by every true Christian? Yes. Teacher. I will now return to the parable of the marriage feast. In eastern countries, in one of which (Judea) your Saviour was born, and was then preaching the gospel, it was customary for the great people to give their feasts out of doors, and to invite the passing traveller to partake of the entertainment. In the beginning of this parable it is said, that the kingdom of God (which in this place means God's people upon earth) is like unto a feast made by a king upon the marriage of his son. Questions. In what country was your Saviour born, and when He related this parable where was He preaching? Judea. What was usual for the great people of the To give their feasts out of doors it customary, or country to do? And who did they often invite to partake of their entertainments? The passing traveller. What is meant in this place by the kingdom of God? people upon earth. God's Teacher. The will, or knowledge of God was first made known to Adam and his descendants; then to the patriarchs; afterwards, through Moses to the children of Israel, with whom were deposited the oracles of God, revealed to the Israelites on mount Sinai, and afterwards declared by His prophets, till the coming of your Saviour. A prophet is a man to whom God reveals things to come, and inspires him while he is talking or writing. Questions. To whom was the will, or kingdom of God first made known? To Adam and his descendants. And to whom next? To the Patriarchs. With whom were deposited the oracles, or sacred laws of God? With the Israelites. Who had received them from God Himself? Moses. What is the meaning, or what do you understand by a prophet? A man to whom God reveals things to come, and inspires him whilst talking or writing. Teacher. At last your Saviour appeared upon earth, and fulfilled all these prophecies and made known the will of God more perfectly than it had ever been done before. Among the guests invited to the feast of Christianity, are every one of you. Take care that you do not despise or neglect the invita |
