READER. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure, &c.-The Lord Jesus Christ, with his gifts and graces, is the treasure hidden in the field of the Gospel, or the word of God. In order to obtain a saving acquaintance with him, and to gain a share of his blessings, we must make ourselves masters of that field, i.e. search the Scriptures with humility and faith, having parted with self-will, and evil prejudice, and false confidence, and counting everything but loss that we may "win Christ, and be found in him." See John i. 16; Col. i. 19; ii. 3; John v. 39; Heb. iv. 1; xii. 15.

A merchantman, seeking goodly pearls. — All men seek happiness. See Ps. iv. 6, 7.—When he had found one pearl of great price, Christ is that jewel of incomparable value, which makes all who possess him truly rich, or happy for time and eternity. Went and sold all that he had, and bought it. We must abandon all false hope, and all love of sin, and the service of everything which is opposed to truth and holiness, if we would have part in the benefits of Christ's salvation. Salvation is the "one thing needful; " and should be prized above all other objects.

A net, that was cast into the sea. Such is the Gospel preached in the world, that vast receptacle and dwelling-place of men of various and opposite characters. They who cast

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the spiritual net, are the preachers of the Gospel. And gathered of every kind. While the Gospel is being preached, many profess to adhere to it, some truly, others falsely; but, as long as the net is in the sea, and in process of filling, none can see what it gathers, not even the fishermen themselves. When the net is full-i. e. at the end of the world, when God shall have accomplished the number of his elect,the final separation will be made, and all the members of Christ's church will be dealt with, not according to their profession, but according to their character. We must not think of separating from Christian communion, merely because a church may contain some bad professors as well as good. Wicked and hypocritical members of a church neither destroy the effect of appointed ordinances, nor defile those worshippers who are sincere, and humble, and watchful against the contagion of bad example.

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things?—This is a question which we should often ask ourselves when we have been reading or hearing the word of God.— We should endeavour, in the use of all means, and by prayer, to obtain a complete understanding of the sense of Scripture, and to make a wise and practical application of its lessons to ourselves.

Therefore every scribe which is instructed, &c.-We should make use of all that we learn, at proper times and seasons, as occasion may offer, especially for the benefit of others.

Whence hath this man this wisdom, &c. That was not a fit question for them to propose. Our Lord's possession and exercise of supernatural wisdom and power was, of itself, sufficient to command their regard and reverence, their faith and submission. But needless inquiries are one means of perpetuating spiritual blindness; and they form one frivolous excuse for persevering in sin and error.

Is not his mother called Mary?— They might have added, And is not Mary of the house of David? But prejudice and passion teach men to overlook what they do not choose to see; and induce them to give attention to that alone which appears to suit their purpose or their humour.

He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Unbelief," it has been truly said, "is the great obstruction to Christ's favours. All things are,' in general, 'possible to God' (ch. xix. 26), but then it is 'to him that believeth' as to the particulars, Mark ix. 23. The

salvation,' but then it is to every one that believes,' Rom. i. 16. So that, if mighty works be not wrought in us, it is not for want of power or grace in Christ, but for want of faith in us. By grace ye are saved,' and that is a mighty work, but it is through faith,'" Eph. ii. 8. That unbelief which hindered the performance of Christ's miraculous works when he was upon earth, restrains his gracious influence now. It is that which "not only locks up the heart of a sinner, but also binds up the hands of the Saviour."

HYMN.

Infinite excellence is thine,
Thou glorious Prince of Grace!
Thy uncreated beauties shine
With never-fading rays.
Millions of happy spirits live

On thy exhaustless store;
From thee they all their bliss receive,
And still thou givest more.

Thou art their triumph and their joy;
They find their all in Thee;
Thy glories will their tongues employ
Through all eternity.

§ XLVII.

CHAP. XIV. 1—12.

John the Baptist beheaded.

Ar that time" Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3 'For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

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4 For John said unto him,

It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and behead

ed John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

a Mark vi. 14. Luke ix. 7.- Or, are wrought by him. - Mrk vi. 17. Luke ii. 19, 20-c Lev. xvi. 16; & xx. 21. d ch. xxi. 26. Luke xx. 6.- Gr. in the midst.

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Herod had laid hold on John, &c. -But St. Mark (vi. 20) tells us that 'Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy man, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." How dangerous is a partial reception of divine truth! How fearful to stifle, or to trifle with, religious impressions !---Faithful ministers of God's word have often become sufferers in the discharge of their duty, and on account of it. See 2 Chron. xvi. 10; xxiv. 20, 21; Acts xx. 20.

John said unto him, It is not lawful, &c. Such was the faithfulness and holy boldness of this servant of the Most High. He protested against sin in all his hearers,-whether in

the soldier, the publican, the Pharisee, or the prince.

He would have put him to death.Wicked men are often irritated and enraged by faithful reproofs. See 1 Kings xxii. 8; Prov. ix. 8; xv. 10, 12. He feared the multitude. We often find that those persons who cast off the fear of God are slaves to the fear of man.-Many men, who would not hesitate to commit sin, on its own account, and in the sight of God, are yet restrained from the commission of unholy deeds by respect to the customs or opinions of men, and with a view to their own character or secular interests. This is a blessing and a safeguard to society; but it is nothing in favour of ungodly men themselves.

He promised with an oath, &c.This was either the result of design, in order that Herod might find an excuse for doing what he was otherwise afraid to do; or else it was an effect of excessive and unhallowed excitement occasioned by carnal mirth and revelry.—A promissory oath, or Tow, of the kind here described, is, of itself, vain and sinful. Such oaths should be, on all accounts, avoided. See Prov. vi. 2; Eccl. v. 6; ix. 2; Matt. v. 34.

of Satan; such the deceitfulness of sin, and of the human heart.-And them which sat with him at meat.How often, in like manner, is respect or compliment to poor mortals, or what is called a point of honour, employed as an excuse for sinning against God!

And he sent, and beheaded John in prison. Thus fell the Baptist, as a martyr in the cause of God; for "he dies as truly a martyr that dies for doing his duty, as he that dies for professing the faith, and bearing witness to the truth."

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it.-Pious men are not ashamed of their persecuted brethren; but are ready to testify respect towards them, whether living or dead.―The church, in the Apostle's days, knew nothing of superstitious veneration of the relics of saints. It is remarkable that particular notice is taken of the burial of the two earliest martyrs, John the Baptist, and Stephen (Acts viii. 2).

And went and told Jesus.-Sometimes losses and troubles are made the means of sending men to Christ.

to prefer this sinful, murderous, request! A young girl so far estranged from the fear of God as to obey the wicked precept, and so far lost to all feelings of tenderness and compassion as to become the instrument of such horrid cruelty!

HYMN.

Sing, ye redeemed of the Lord, Your great Deliverer sing; Pilgrims for Zion's city bound Be joyful in your King.