of the spiritual nature of his kingdom. He was constrained sometimes to complain of them in this very view ; " Are ye also yet without understanding^?" Nevertheless he continued to teach them, till he had initiated them fully into all the myste- ries of his kingdom. And thus will he do to the most ignorant of men ; he will " open their understandings V' and " guide them into all truth s."]
3. He will encourage our feeblest efforts —
[It not unfrequently happens, that they who are slow of understanding, are altogether driven to despondency through the impatience of their teachers. But Jesus is all meekness and lowliness : and, however weak our efforts be, provided only they be sincere and humble, he will bless them with a measure of success, and with manifest tokens of his approba- tion. We may appeal to the experience of all, in confirmation of this truth : who ever sought instruction from him in a way of reading and prayer, without finding his mind gradually open- ing to an apprehension of the truth ? Has not Jesus shewn, if we may so speak, a partiality for the poor and weak, revealing to them what he has hidden from the wise and prudent*^ ; con- founding thereby the wisdom of the wise*, and securing to himself the glory of his own work ? Yes ; in reference to the illumination of the mind, as well as to any thing else, we may say, " He will not bi-eak the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, but will bring forth judgment unto victory^."]
But, in addition to the encouragement which his condescension affords us, we have a further induce- ment to learn of him, from the consideration of, III. Our reward —
An attention to the instructions of earthly monitors is productive of no little benefit. But if we diligently learn of Christ, our advantages will be greater than we can well conceive : we shall find benefit to our souls ; we shall obtain " rest,"
1. From the uncertainty of conjecture —
[Mankind in general are in a state of doubt respecting the most important of all concerns : though they may assent to the principal truths of Christianity, they feel no assurance respecting them. But those who have learned of Christ, soon attain a full persuasion of the things they have been taught. The Scripture speaks of a threefold assurance ; an assurance
e Matt. XV. 16. f Luke xxiv. 25. s John xvi. 13.
ii Matt, xi. 25. * 1 Cor. i. 27.
^ Matt. xii. 20. and Zech. iv. 10.