whatever our blessed Lord inculcated on his Dis- ciples, that would we also inculcate on all who profess to belong to him.
Our Lord, dining at the house of a Pharisee on a Sabbath-day, set himself to correct some evils which he saw peculiarly predominant there. Amongst the company he perceived a spirit of ambition and self- preference ; which he endeavoured to correct by a parable suited to the occasion. It should seem, too, that the feast was sumptuous, or, at least, that none but rich people were invited to it : he therefore, to counteract the pride which such a banquet fostered and displayed, told them what kind of feasts he approved ; and that, instead of laying out their money in sumptuous entertainments, he would have them rather to spend their money in making provision for the poor. In conformity with this precept, we shall endeavour to set before you some rules and reasons for a proper expenditure of our money.
I. Some rules —
Two are mentioned in our text ;
1. Do not waste your money in giving entertain- ments to the rich —
[We must not construe this so strictly as to decline all friendly intercourse with our richer relatives or neighbours, or to refuse them the rights of hospitality ; for kindness is due to them as well as to the poor, and doubtless may occasionally be exercised towards them in the way apparently forbidden in our text. But we must not affect high company, or spend money unnecessarily in entertaining them. Hospitality indeed is good ; and we should " love ita," and not " be forgetful to entertain strangers ; because some have thereby entertained angels un- awares15:" but still this is essentially different from a fondness for parade and feasting ; which, however vindicated as necessary to form connexions for one's children, and to promote social intercourse, and to keep up one's station in the world, is little else than sensuality and pride. To feast the rich, will involve us in great expense, which of course must lessen our means of doing good to the poor : therefore, though occasions may occur wherein we may not improperly- exercise hospitality towards them, we must not find our pleasure in such feasts, nor should
a 1 Tim. iii. 2. Tit. i. 8. 1 Pet. iv. 9. b Heb. xiii. 2.