ment they had incurred by their tranf greffions, but also to enlighten their dark minds, that they might ferve, honor, and obey God, after an acceptable manner. In fo doing, Chrift glorified his Father upon earth and God glorified his Son, for his ready obedience to his will, by commanding every knee to bow at the name of Jesus Christ, and by requiring of every one who hoped for falvation, to pray for it, only, in and through the merits of his beloved Son; investing him with all honor, power, dignity and dominion. Yet does our

bleffed Saviour condefcend to bestow on us the appellation of brethren. What an exaltation to human nature, to be confidered as related to Chrift!

If we are defirous of knowledge, riches, honors or pleasures, we are offered them all in his gospel. Shall we, then, follow with the utmost eagerness, the trifles and vanities of this world, making them of confequence, and even effential to, our present happiness, and fpending upon them the greatest part of our precious

time; which, with talents fuitable to those ends, was given us for the nobleft purposes? St. Luke informs us, in the fifteenth chapter of his gospel and the tenth verse, that even the angels are greatly interested in man's welfare: "Likewife I

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say unto you, there is joy in the pre"fence of the angels of God over one "finner that repenteth." With what aftonishment and pity must they look down, on those who waste the greatest part of their time in folly and diffipation! Such pursuits must appear to them more trifling and infignificant, than the toys and amusements of children to those of riper years. It can only be for want of due reflection, that so many people make so bad a choice in the employment of their time: indolence and carelessnefs are the great enemies to the right performance of our duties; but let us ever keep in mind, that God expects an improvement of those talents he has commited to our charge.

From the feventh and eighth verses, we learn, that the doctrines delivered by Christ 4D 2

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proceeded from the Father, and that the difciples had properly understood and applied them. Let us endeavor to follow their example; and, by our pious and zealous adherence to the word of God, manifest the stability of our faith; nor attend to those who would throw a ftumbling block in our way, and who, not content with making innovations themfelves in the facred Scriptures, are conftantly on the watch to draw others into a participation of their pernicious doctrines.

Our bleffed Lord, knowing what severe trials and perfecutions the apostles would have to encounter, prays to his Father for them, particularly; not that they might escape, but be supported under them; they being intended to fhow forth the honor and glory of God, and to be the means of promoting their own eternal happiness; who were chofen as the inftruments of univerfal good to mankind, by the propagation of the gospel: fince there could not be a stronger proof of the truth of the religion

religion they preached, than their patientfubmiffion to every species of trial and perfecution, and even to the most cruel death, in defence of it.

From Chrift's example, we may learn that we are permitted to address prayers for our friends under trouble, danger, or distress; but, as to what relates to their temporal concerns, we must keep our defires within due bounds, nor fuffer anxiety for them, any more than for ourselves, to divert us from the performance of our duty to God, or to draw from us murmurs against his divine difpenfations. Worldly concerns muft never be fuffered to interfere with heavenly ones.

Our Lord prays that his disciples might be kept from the evil of fin, which in their various temptations they were in danger of falling into, either from the persecution of their enemies or from fpiritual pride, which is one of the most dangerous temptations thrown out by the grand adversary of mankind where great fpiritual gifts are granted; this was a temptation which it

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was particularly incumbent on the apoftles to guard against; as on them their Master bestowed the power of working miracles, for the propagation of his faith, making them partakers of his divine nature, that they might follow his steps in all things.

Our Saviour compares the love and union between his Father and himself, with that which ought to fubfift amongst his difciples. How, then, can we call ourselves Christians, or prefume to fuppofe that we have any part in Christ, if we entertain malice, or are uncharitable one to another? In St. Luke's gospel, (chap. vi. ver. 36.) our Lord fays: "Be

ye merciful, as your Father which is in "Heaven is merciful ;" and, again, in St. Matthew, (chap. v. ver. 48.) " Be ye there"fore perfect, even as your Father which " is in Heaven is perfect." We cannot understand these texts literally: we know that Heaven and earth are not wider afunder, than the perfections of our Maker and the humble efforts of the best of the human race; but we may learn from them, that