that repentance could profit them ; and our Lord delighted to encourage their hopesf.]
Thus did his conduct accord with the dictates of
reason, and with the great ends of his mission.
Infer —
1 . The danger of self-righteousness — [Men feel of themselves the danger of gross sin ; but they cannot be persuaded that they will suffer any thing by self- righteousness. But a person who, under dying circumstances, denies his need of help, as effectually destroys himself, as if he drank poison or plunged a dagger to his heart. Deny not then your need of the heavenly Physician ; nor think to heal yourselves by any self-righteous methods. You must resemble the publican, if ever you would enjoy his lotg.]
2. The folly of unbelief — [We are apt to make the depth of our misery a reason for despondency ; but the doubting of the Physician's power will be as destructive to the soul, as the denying of our need of him. O behold the remedy! Are you sickh? — sinners1 ? — - lostk? Christ suits his promises to your state ; He addresses himself to each1, nor shall any suppliant be disappointed"1.]
f Luke iv. 18, 19. e Luke xviii. 13, 14. h Jer. viii. 22. 1 1 Tim. i. 15. k Luke xix. 10. I John v. 6.
m John vi. 37.
Mark ii. 27. And he said unto them, The Sabbath toas made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
IN nothing is the force of prejudice more strongly seen, than in the blame cast by the world upon the followers of Christ for the most trifling offence, whilst the greatest enormities of ungodly men are suffered to pass without any animadversion whatever. Nor is it only for a real deviation from duty that they are condemned, but for the smallest departure from rules, which have their foundation in nothing but human policy or superstition. The Disciples of our Lord had been attending the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day, and, being hungry a, they plucked some ears of corn
a Matt. xii. 1.