that mourn, for they fhall be comforted. Bleffed are the meek, for they fhall inherit the earth.'

The pride of the Pharifees was as confpicuous as their hypocrify; and Jefus, in his parable of the Pharifee and the publican, who went to the temple to pray, represented the former, who boasted of his virtues, in an odious light, and the latter, who expreffed nothing but felf reproach, in an amiable one. "He stood afar off," (Luke xviii. 3) and without daring to lift up his eyes unto heaven, only "fmote upon his breast, and said, God be merciful to me a finner." Jefus concluded this inftructive parable with faying to his audience, "I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For," he added, " 66 every one that exalteth himfelf fhall be abafed, and he that humbleth himself fhall be exalted;" an obfervation which it is remarkable he made on feveral other occafions, as in his invective against the Pharifees in the temple, quoted before, Matt. xxiii. 12. and again when, at the houfe of a chief Pharifee, he obferved, (Luke xxiv. 7) how the

company

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chofe the chief feats, and he advised them rather to take the lowest places, when, if they were thought worthy of it, they might be advanced,

Jefus more than once checked the ambition which he perceived in his apoftles, who were defirous of the chief offices in his kingdom. As they were at one time difputing on this fubject, (Mark ix. 35)" he called the twelve, and faid unto them, If any man defire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and fervant of all." He then "took a child, and fet him in the midft of them," and faid, (Matt. xviii. 31)" Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore fhall humble himself as this little child, the fame is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." When, after this, the two fons of Zebedee, James and John, requested to have the chief feats in his kingdom, he called them to him, and said, (Matt. xx. 25) "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it fhall not be fo among you. But whofoever

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foever will be great among you, let him be your minifter; and whofoever will be chief among you, let him be your fervant; even as the fon of man came not to be miniftered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ranfom for many."

He took another opportunity of recommending the unambitious temper and difpofition of young children, when the parents of fome of them brought them to him, and requested (Matt. xix. 13) that he "would put his hands on them, and pray." His difciples "rebuking thofe that brought them," he said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of fuch is the kingdom of heaven." In this view did he recommend his own difpofition to the imitation of his difciples, when he faid, (Matt. xi. 28) "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye fhall find reft for your fouls. For my yoke is eafy, and my burden is light." He alfo recommended humility, as well as benevolence, when he

washed

washed his difciples' feet, and faid, (John xiii. 13)“ Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye fay well; for fo I am. If I, then, your Lord and Mafter, have washed your feet, ye ought alfo to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

DISCOURSE III. PART II.

7. JESUS, as I have observed, was far from propofing to difcufs at large, or fyftematically, the whole duty of man. He only made fuch obfervations, and gave fuch inftructions, as particular occafions called for. But he had frequent occafion to give very important inftructions concerning the two great heads of moral duty, as it refpects God, and man; and his advices and exhortations on these articles are most important and excellent.

I have already observed that Jesus cautioned his hearers against oftentation in prayer, directing them when they prayed to

retire into their closets, and, fhutting the door, to pray to their Father who feeth in fecret. At the fame time he cautioned them against the clamorous repetitions of the Heathens, who expected to be heard for their much fpeaking; faying, (Matt. v. 18) "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." afk him." He also then gave them a concife and most excellent form of prayer, expreffing more especially an intire devotedness to the will of God, and a defire that his kingdom may come, and praying for the forgiveness of our fins, as we forgive others. He recommended, however, perfeverance in prayer, and a patient waiting for divine favours, from the parable of the unjuft judge, who gave no attention to a poor widow, who applied to him for justice, till he was wearied by her importunity; faying, (Luke xviii. 7) "Shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry night and day unto him, though he bear long with them?”

The duty of confidence in God, while we are careful to do his will, Jefus urged in the strongest manner, though what he said

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