that my sister hath left me to serve you alone? Bid her therefore that she help me."

But Jesus, by this answer to this discontented sister, gave her to underatand that it was more pleasing to him when persons attended on his instructions, and listened to his words, than all their endeavours to provide sumptuous entertainments for himself and his disciples: he was not insen sible of any regard which persons had for him, nor unthankful for their kindness, in what way soever it was expressed; but as the good of man kind was his constant endeavour and care, he always approved those ex pressions of kindness best, which were most conducive to that end: nor could he esteem himself being fed with the food which perisheth, of equal consequence with his bestowing on others, that which endureth to ever lasting life: "Martha, Martha," said he, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her."

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From this little village JESUS departed to Jerusalem, and attended at the feast of dedication. Being in the temple, and standing in Solomon' porch, he was accosted by the Jews, who desired him to tell them plainly, whether he were the Messiah or not? Well knowing that they did not aske this question for information, but to gain an opportunity of accusing him to the Romans as a seditious person, who pretended to be the great son of David, promised by the prophets, and by this means, designing to stir up the people to rebellion, and seize on the kingdom; our great Redeemer told them, that they must form a judgment of him from his actions as I told you," said he," and ye believed not the works that I do in my. Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you." It is in vain to dispute, or lay down reasons and arguments to persons of your temper and spirit, you are under the dominion of your headstrong passions and wicked hearts, and your inveterato prejudices will not be overcome; you are not of the number of those whom my Father, by his powerful grace, will bring unto me, and cause to believe in my name; these happy persons are assisted by the power from on high, they carefully and candidly examine the proofs I have given of my mission, and they believe in me, and receive me with all their hearts: nor will these my followers and friends loose their rewards; for I will willingly receive them, and make them partakers of eternal life and glory: these persons I will support and defend; I look upon them as my own, and however industrious or assiduous the wicked of this world, or the powers of darkness may be to deceive and destroy them, they shall never effect their purpose; for I stand determined to bring them safe to my heavenly kingdom, and all their enemies may rage in vain: my Father hath given them to me: all power, both in heaven and earth, is in his hands, and his omnipotence is engaged in their defence: none is able to contend with him, to prevent the accomplishment of his will, or to hurt the persons whom he defends: none is able to contend with me, or wrest my people from me; for I and the Great Eternal Father of the universe are one: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. A stranger they will not follow for they know not the voice of strangers. And I give unto them eternal life; they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them. out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."

These words highly provoked the Jews,they considered them as blasphemous, and were so enraged, that they took up stones to stone the ex alted Saviour of sinners; they thought they acted in conformity to the law. which commands, that all blasphemers shall be stoned; but Jesus asked them, which of the benevolent miracles he had wrought amongst them, deserved such treatment: Many good works," said he, “have I shewed: :

heavy woes for their hypocrisy, which was manifest in their scrupulon exactness in the performance of the minutest part of the ceremonial ob servances contained in their traditions while they were most scandalously careless and negligent in the weightier matters of the law: Wo unto you Pharisees!" said he, for ye tithe mint and rue, & all manner of herbs, & pass over judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Wo unto you Pharisees, for ye love the up permost seats in the synagogues, and greeting in the markets, Wo unto yon, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."

Though this discouse was principally assigned to affect the Scribes and Pharisees, a certain lawyer, who sat at the table, thinking that this rebuke affected persons of his professien, was very much offended; but our great Redeemer, who regarded not the persons nor professions of men, plainly told him what was his real character: Wo unto you also, ye lawyers!" said he," for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be born, and ye your selves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers."

The blessed JESUS also blamed the conduct of the Scribes and Pharisees for building the sepulchres of the prophets, whom their fathers had mur. dered; because they did not erect these edifices so much out of respect to the memory of the deceased worthies, as to exhibit the utmost ostentation of piety, and make themselves admired for their noble sentiments; while, by their constant line of conduct, they gave reason to conclude, that they secretly entertained the same hatred to reproof, and unconquerable obstinacy and perverseness, which excited their fathers to the most unreasonable and cruel of their actions: Wo unto you! said he, for ye build the sepulchre of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, & ye build them sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will end them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and. persecute; that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished, between the altar and the temple: verily, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation, As our great Redeemer well knew that this hardened and unbelieving generation, would spill the blood of the Son of God, and of consequence be guilty of the blackest, and most impious and horrid mar-, tyrdom, which could be committed; he might justly represent them, as the most black, horrid, and hateful race of murderers, as guilty in themselves, as much to be abhorred, and equally deserving peculiar and distinguished vengeance, as if they had shed all the innocent blood which ever had been spilt in the world.

Our great Redeemer, after pronouncing these woes, turned his dis course against the lawyers, and condemned them for filling the minds of the people with wrong notions, arising from forced interpretations of the Scriptures; by which means the minds of the people were prejudiced against the gospel, and prevented from receiving the truth: "Wo unto you lawyers!" said he, "for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye enter not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." However just and reasonable these discourses were, the severity of the rebukes contained in them was highly provoking to those Scribes and Pharisees; they were conscious of being guilty of the crimes laid to their charge, but their pride could not bear the thoughts of being sunk in the opinion of the people who heard these remarks; their minds were agitated with conflicting passions, but pride and envy urged them to the most base and despicable actions; their rising resentment studied revenge, and they were so mean as to urge our exalted Redeemer to discourse on various subjects, with no other view than to ensnare him, and by that means ren