poor woman that stood behind him weeping? This it feems gave umbrage to the Pharifee, that he fhould fo mildly and familiarly converfe with finners.-Our bleffed Redeemer does not seem to take particular notice of the difguft of the mafter of the houfe, probably from a principle of good manners, as being his gueft. But addreffing himself to SIMON faid, I have fomewhat to fay unto thee, and then gave him the parable of the two debtors, and with great condefcenfion appealed to him, which would love their compaffionate creditor moft? SIMON answered and faid, I fuppofe that he to whom he forgave most. JESUS anfwered, Thou haft rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and faid unto SIMON, Seeft thou this woman? I entered into thine boufe, thou gavest me no water for my feet-but he bath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.— Thou gavest me no kifs :—but this woman, fince the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.-Mine head with ol thou didst not anoint: -but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her fins, which are many, are forgiven; for he loved much:-but to whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little. Hard, very hard it was, that he G who

who could have commanded all the Kings of the earth to have bowed before him, and might have taken place of CÆSAR upon his throne, yet was ambitious of holding no greater levee than the children of forrow, fhould be called to an account by a proud Pharifee for his benign conduct in this particular. How fimilar to this is the parable of the Prodigal Son? What could induce that foolish wild youth to defire his portion of his father's fubftance, and to go into a far country, when doubtless he had every neceffary indulgence under his father's protecting roof? But then perhaps he had the parental reproof with it, which his high li centious fpirit could not brook, and fo he must needs defire to be mafter of his own. fortune, which we find he was not long poffeffor of, for alas! he foon spent it in riotous living, and abandoned courses, so that he was brought in a little time to feed on hufks with fwine, and then, and not 'till then, he faw his folly. When he had reflected how much better his father's fervants fared than he did, and when this wholesome feverity had brought on a proper fubmiffion, I will arife, faid he, and go to my father, own my fault against GoD and him, and being no

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more worthy of the tender appellation of son, will only defire to be as a hired fervant: But no fooner did his father fee him, yet at a great distance, than, in fpite of deferved resentment, all the fine feelings of parental pity broke in upon his tender foul, like a wide inundation of waters that were not to be reftrained. With all the impetuofity of love he ran to meet him, feized him in his arms, preffed him to his bofom, fealed his peace with the kiffes of his mouth, called for the best robe to cover him, a ring to adorn him, and fhoes for his feet, and proclaimed a folemn feftivity to his family.-Upon which joyful occafion, the fatted calf was flain, and they began to be merry. And a noble reafon he gives for this conduct, in his reply to his eldest fon's expoftulation upon it. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is alive again, and was loft and is found. As much as to fay, let a veil be drawn over the former faults of this poor wandering fugitive, once loft to me in the most afflictive fenfe of the word, and, poor wretch! loft to himself, an incumbrance and pest to society but now that he hath fuch a contrite. sense of his rebellious crimes, furely I ought

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to protect him; for by the divine favour and my encouragement, he may be confirmed in his prefent pious refolutions, and restored to the world. And if there be more joy among the celestial inhabitants, thofe pure fpirits that now furround their father's throne, over one finner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine juft perfons that need no repentance; let not the fuperiority of an elder brother grudge me this teftimony of paternal affection to my new-born fon. A day more joyful to me than the day of his nativity. Permit me to keep it as his birth-day. And should the regularity of his future life answer the warmeft wishes of a fond father, he can never fuperfede thee in my esteem. My heart is enlarged enough to bless you both. Thy fteady courfe of piety and filial duty can never be rivalled by this new-made convert, nor fhall it go without it's reward. Thou, my firft-born, art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. From the foregoing parables allow me to obferve,that lenity ought to be fhewn to the Penitent (and fuch lenity to Penitents alone). Indeed many inftances might be produced to fhew it's efficacy where the difficulties have appeared numerous, and to human efforts infurmountable. But GOD hath

hath promised to give his gracious fpirit to all that afk it. And his hand is not fhortened that it cannot fave, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear. No, his power is infinite, and endued with this power from on high, what bands are fo ftrong that we cannot break? But to imagine that we can fafely converse and affociate with the profligate and hardened, is a proof of the deepest ignorance of human nature. It is an undoubted truth, and hath the fanction of an Apoftle, as well as the univerfal experience of mankind to confirm it, that evil communications will corrupt good manners, wherefore come out from among them, faith the Lord, and be feparate. It is indeed very dangerous to rifk our own principles, by affociating with thofe, whom we can neither do good to, nor receive good from, which is the great end of fociety. Can a man touch pitch and not be defiled thereby, or take live-coals into his bofom, and not be burnt? And it may moreover be asked, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Yes, at cafual meetings they may, but not in the fervency of bofom-friendship. They cannot, where there is fo ftrong a repugnancy of principle and fentiment. Thought cannot meet thought, nor from fo barren a tree that never bloffoms,

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