gether with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial ?"

It was impossible, therefore, that our Lord should choose ungodly men, for his friends or companions: and if the Pharisees had been able to say, This man allows his followers to remain sinners, they would indeed have found a weighty allegation against him.

But their complaint was, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. He does not shut them out from his discourses and exhortations. And this was much the same as to accuse a physician, because he received into his house those who were sick and diseased: those who have most evident and urgent need of him.

The complaint leads to a parable, which both corrects the error on which the remark of the Pharisees was founded, and also declares the merciful purpose of God in sending his Son into the world. Our Lord was accused of receiving sinners. Now, sinners are those who have departed from the service of God to which they were bound, and are living in the service of Satan. They are like sheep who have left the safe fold and the right shepherd, and have strayed into a wilderness, where they will either die of hunger, or be a prey to wild beasts.

3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the

wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Therefore, would our Lord say, why should not I do that for God's creatures, "the sheep of his pasture," which you would do for your dumb flocks? Who would call that man a good shepherd, who should content hinself with staying by the sheep which remained safe in the fold, and took no pains to recover those which had strayed? God willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live: and therefore he sent his Son into the world, "to seek and to save that which was lost."

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Likewise. This word is to be observed. As

of

the shepherd thinks more of the one sheep lost, ? joys mu than of the whole safe flock; and rejoices more over the one sheep recovered, than over the whole fold which had occasioned him no fears: such is the joy in heaven over a returning and repenting sinner. Not because a repenting sinner is more beloved or valued in heaven than a company of just persons who need no repentance: but because one had been given up as lost, and no fears had been suffered on account of the others. This is quite natural. While David, in his youthful avo

cations, had his father's sheep in safety, he was quiet and easy about them, with no strong feelings of joy or sorrow. But when the lion came, and

1

"took a lamb out of the flock: and he went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth :" then he felt joy over the one lamb which he had rescued, more than over all the rest which had not been placed in jeopardy.

Such is the joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Not that the ninety and nine persons who are walking in the faith and fear of God, are less valuable in his sight than the one person who may be converted from the ways of sin. If the individual soul is precious to him, how far more precious are the souls of so great a number! But Jesus has used a familiar example, first to reprove the Pharisees, who boasted of themselves that "they were righteous, and despised others ;" and further to encourage sinners, by assuring them of God's mercy, that they may come unto him, and he may heal them. God will receive the penitent; will admit him to his favour. Nay, there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. He is not only received, but rejoiced over, when recovered "from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God."

A word must still be said upon the concluding sentence, which speaks of just persons that need no repentance. In a strict and proper sense, we know that there are none such? all need repentance; for "all have sinned, and come short of the 1 1 Sam. xvii. 34.

glory of God," and can only receive

eternal life as But there are,

the gift of God through Christ Jesus. through the power of the Holy Spirit, just persons, who though they daily need, and daily feel, and daily express their penitence, still need no change of life, but are already at peace with God through faith in the Redeemer, and "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." These are comparatively safe: the inhabitants of heaven are not uneasy on their behalf: there is reasonable hope that " he who hath begun a good work in them shall perform it unto the end," and that they shall be "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." But they are uneasy about the sinner, who lives in the way which God forbids. Concerning him they have anxiety; such anxiety as may be where blessed angels are. They see him in the broad road which leadeth to destruction. The stroke of death may come as a thief in the night, and hurry him to judgment, and from judgment to outer darkness, "where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And therefore when they see the wicked man turning away from his wickedness, and the thoughtless man awakened from his carelessness and seeking peace with God through the blood of the cross, and praying to be received into the fold of Christ, and to be kept within its pale; then their fears for his soul are quieted, and their holy sorrow is turned into joy. Every fresh conversion from sin, every fresh grant of pardon, brings an increase to happiness even where they are, where happiness is perfect, and there is fulness of joy for evermore.

LECTURE LVII.

REPENTANCE ENCOURAGED BY THE PARABLE OF THE LOST PIECE OF SILVER.

LUKE XV. 8-10.

The great principle which the gospels declares and repeats, and enforces, is, that "God will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." Mercy was the basis of the dispensation: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that all that believe in him might not perish." And the same mercy is everywhere manifested; and is epescially illustrated by the parables which this chapter contains.

In the one to which we last attended, the example is that of a sheep which had strayed, and which the shepherd had sought and recovered to the fold. Another parable now awaits us, taken, like the former, from the practice of ordinary life.

8. Either what woman having ten pices of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me: for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.