publican was in sorrow, and he sought comfort; he had sinned deeply, and he had prayed earnestly for pardon; and he went down to his house, we may collect from the parable, with the comfortable hope of having obtained that forgiveness from the mercy of God, which he sought not from his own merits: he was justified (or accepted) by God; but before God. would accept him, he would grant him the pardon of his sins.

It cannot but be interesting to consider, how forgiveness might be expected to act upon the feelings of a Christian, in the same state of mind as the publican. When a servant of Christ has been brought to a deep sense of his sinful state, so as to be filled with shame and sorrow, the world and all its enjoyments have nothing which they can offer to soothe and cheer his wounded spirit. To talk of ordinary pleasures and amusements to a person in this state, is like the offer of food to a sick, stomach. All, for a time, is gloom and alarm. But.... when God listens to his earnest prayers for pardon, and grants him forgiveness, for the sake of Jesus Christ, comfort springs up

in his heart. Hitherto nothing has given him relief, and nothing has the power of yielding him a moment's enjoyment; but now he begins to feel peace with God, and peace with himself: the Holy Spirit gives him comfort and joy in believing, that, as Christ died for penitent sinners, he shall receive the benefit of his Saviour's death. He can now look forward with hope; and the prospect of future happiness enables him, for the present, to go on his way rejoicing. As he feels the blessing of being at peace with God, and possessing a quiet conscience, his heart opens towards his fellow-creatures, and he wishes to see them enjoy the same peace which has taken possession of his own bosom. Hence he learns to love God, as his merciful protector, with all his heart, and mind, and soul, and strength; he learns also to love his fellow-creatures, the children of one common parent, as himself; and seeks, on all occasions, to do unto others, as he would think it just that they should do unto him.

But he carefully avoids every feeling of pride, calling to mind his many failings

and infirmities; and is too deeply sensible of these, to dwell on the faults of his neighbours. He finds sufficient employment for his thoughts, in watching over the movements of his own heart, and attending to the duties of his calling. Nor will they, who humble themselves in the sight of God, and are lowly in their own eyes, lose their reward: "God," "God," we are› assured,"resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble," and our Lord declares, at the close of the parable which we have been now considering, that "whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and that he who humbleth himself shall be exalted.",

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and 'shall not be able.

CHRIST, we are here taught, forbids us to indulge a vain curiosity, even upon the most important subjects. No subject cer tainly can be more important than the everlasting welfare of the soul. But the proper business of each is, not to enquire what will be the eternal state of others, but what his own will be. We may, indeed, and we ought, to assist our fellow-creatures, as far as we are able, in working out their salvation, but this is very different from what Christ silently condemns in the

text, Let us do all we can for the service of a fellow-creature, especially for his spiritual benefit, but we must then leave him in the hands of God, and not seek to pry into those things which are not to be made known till the day of judgment. {

One point, and that of the greatest consequence, we may learn from the text, that God has put it into the power of all, through the death of Christ, and by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to be saved. God not only wills that all should be saved→ such is not only his wish-but he has also appointed the means. Christ died upon the cross to procure for all men the pardon of their sins, and everlasting happiness in heaven; and he declares, that "all who come unto him he will in no wise cast out." What he requires of those who come unto him is plainly declared in the words of the text, "Strive to enter in at the strait (or narrow) gate.

The road that leads to destruction is broad, and, alas! but too easy to be found. All, who make their own will the only

* John vi. 37.