V. THE REPETITION.

Now read again the Scriptures, See No II.

VI. THE APPLICATION.

1. When the knowledge of the Gospel is really received by any one, it is like having a candle lighted, and brought into a dark room: and as soon as we find out that we have got this light ourselves, we must reasonably wish that others, with whom we are acquainted should have the same advantage. To keep what we know secret, and to say nothing about it to our friends, would be like putting a lighted candle in some place where it would be of no use to any body. The conversation of any one who is well acquainted with the Gospel, surely ought to shew some signs of that light which belongs to heavenly things. We live in a time, when all that Christ told his Apostles is openly preached, and constantly brought before us: so that none can have any excuse if they remain ignorant, with so much knowledge within their reach; nor ought any to find it difficult to speak upon a subject so generally known, and in which every person has so important an interest.

QUESTIONS.

Have I such a clear understanding of the doctrines of the Gospel, as enlightens my own mind, and brings the subject in a practical way into my every-day concerns?

Does my conversation with my neighbours lead to the subject of religion and does it communicate what I know in such a way as is likely to do them good?

2. The abundance of religious instruction which is given us in this country, is very likely to make us neglect the warning of our Lord, to "take heed how we hear." That which comes very often is apt to be received only through habit; and the

many sermons which are preached may lead to carelessness in many hearers, unless they are very watchful over themselves. Our profit does not depend upon the quantity of good instruction we hear with our ears, but on what we really attend to with our minds: and the reason why many people have become less interested in hearing Sermons than they used to be, is because they have alllowed their thoughts to wander idly without checking them; and so their measure of profit became less and less, as their measure of attention grew smaller. It is no light matter to be present at the preaching of God's word: it is on the contrary a means of grace for which we must give account hereafter, and if the preaching of the Gospel which we have heard has done us no good, we may generally trace the failure to our own want of attention, and carelessness in hearing. If people are living where they have many opportunities of spiritual instruction, and still do not find that they make any progress in christian knowledge and practical religion; they should anxiously and diligently watch over themselves while they are listening to the Sermons, and most likely they will discover, that they have neglected the warning "take heed how ye hear."

QUESTIONS.

Am I in the habit of listening, with attention and interest, to the Sermons and other instructions which I go to hear?

Or, do my thoughts wander carelessly without checking them? and do I excuse this inattention because. I think I cannot help it?

VII. HEADS FOR PRAYER.

1. Pray for a clear understanding of the doctrines of the Gospel, and for grace to speak on the subject in such a way as may make them clear to those with whom you converse.

2. Pray for an attentive spirit in listening to the instructions which you hear.

3. Humble yourself before God, for the much weakness and wandering of thought, which you have often allowed in yourself while hearing Sermons; and pray that you may receive more benefit in future.

VIII. THE PRAYER.

1

] O Thou Father of lights, who alone canst enlighten the understanding with the power of thy truth; cast the light of the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so powerfully upon my mind, that I may clearly perceive and know the doctrines of His salvation. Give me grace also to shew forth that which thou teachest me; that in all my conversation I may speak of thy truth in such a way as is most fitting to convey it rightly to the minds of others. [2] Enable me to mark, learn, and inwardly digest all the instruction which is afforded me; so that, whatsoever in thy holy word I shall profitably learn, I may indeed fulfil the same. [3] I humbly beseech Thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon my infirmities; and for the glory of thy name, turn from me all those evils that

most justly have deserved. How often have my thoughts wandered from the teaching which my ears have seemed to hear! and how little have I striven to check them! Forgive me those things whereof my conscience is afraid; and give me grace to profit more abundantly in future, for Jesus Christ's sake, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

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SEVENTY-SECOND PORTION.

I. BEGINNING PRAYER.

MAY GOD, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, give me the HOLY SPIRIT, that I may understand this portion of his Holy Word, and profit by it. AMEN.

II. THE SCRIPTURE,

Read St. Matthew's Gospel, c. xiii. ver. 44 to 46.

III. THE MEANINGS;

or sense of some words as used in this portion. MATTHEW Xiii. verse

44. treasure means here money

45. merchantman

trader

46. pearls

After our Lord had explained to his disciples the parable of the good seed and the tares, he told them two other short stories or parables; which describe the different ways in which different people come to a saving knowledge of the Gospel-truth.

In former times (before there were so many different ways of putting money out to use as there are at present,) it was a very common

thing for people to hide what they did not immediately want to spend, by burying it under ground for safety against robbers. In doing this they would of course choose a place where there would be the least likelihood of searching for such a thing-an open field for instance. Many sums of money have been buried in this manner; and the owners have gone to a distance, or died, without telling the secret. By this means it sometimes happened, that another person digging in the fields accidentally found money which had long been hid: such a thing happened often enough to make it a well-known piece of good fortune. And in old histories there are many accounts of law-suits about sums of money that were thus found; in order to decide whether they should belong to the finder, or to the person who owned the land in which it had been hid. Our Lord then first compares the kingdom of heaven, or the power of the Gospel-salvation in the heart, to this well known kind of accident. He supposes a labourer to be employed in the fields; who, while at his usual work of digging in the earth, lights upon a quantity of money, which had been hidden in the ground where he was working. As soon as he finds out the value of the prize, he puts it back again, and covers it up for a time; and being delighted at his good fortune, he goes directly and parts with every thing that he has in the world, and buys the field in which this treasure is hid in order that he may be master of the prize, which he knows to be worth a great deal more than all that he had before.

By this parable Jesus shews us the circumstances, under which some people become real