Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. St. Matt. v. 17.

Our Lord anticipates objections, and obviates prejudices; for the mode pursued by founders of a new system, or religion, commonly is at once to decry what has been done or said before them, and to build again de novo. This arises from the over-liking we bear to our own system and interests; but our Lord's whole work was one of humility.

How gracious, for instance, were His dealings with the Baptist! He suffered him first to preach the Gospel ; and when He Himself preached it, He used none other than the Baptist's tone and words; nor would He open His blessed mouth at all in preaching, till the Baptist was silenced, by being put in prison. And as He condescended to follow in the steps of the Baptist in preaching repentance, so in His Sermon on the Mount He takes His key from Moses, blending with the illustration of His own humility the truth so important to the ministers of religion, that they ought never rudely or needlessly to shock the feelings and prejudices of their people. (Rev. J. Ford.)

After that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. St. Mark i. 14.

He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. St. Luke iv. 40.

He might have healed them with a word; but He laid on His hands: He might have laid His hands on some, while He healed all; but He laid His hands on every one of them. Memorable and marvellous act! How many thoughts does it suggest to the pious reflecting disciple. How great that love, which spared no pains in the communication of its blessings. How important in things sacred and sacramental the strict observance of the outward and visible signs of grace. How blessed the work of Bishops, in administering the rite of confirmation, when they follow the example of Christ, and, as the Church directs, "lay their hands upon the head of every one (candidate) severally." How still more blessed is the Minister's office, when he delivers the consecrated elements to the communicants, individually, conveying to each faithful soul that Body and Blood, which was given for all, and which they thus receive, even as if given for themselves alone: Hence they learn to say, "He loved me, and gave Himself for me." Such must be my principle of action, such my design, in every function of my ministry.— (Rev. J. Ford.)

Ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, 1 Thess, ii, 11, 12,

66

GREGORY THE great, bishop of Rome, 590.

See St. Luke x. 17-20.

Glory be to GoD in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill to men, because the corn of wheat has fallen into the ground, and has died, so that He,-by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, from love to whom we seek out, in Britain, brethren whom we knew not, through whose grace we have found those whom we sought without knowing them, shall not reign in heaven alone. But, beloved brother, there is something in this heavenly gift which should cause you to fear in the midst of your great joy. You must indeed rejoice that the souls of the English are drawn to the inward grace by the outward miracles, but you must fear lest your weak soul be lifted up on account of the miracles which have taken place.

This also remains for you to do, that whilst you work these things outwardly by the power of God, you judge your own heart with strictness. It is necessary to restrain the soul from becoming elated with joy at its own elevation. The Lord has given us one sign, however, at which we may indeed rejoice, and by which we may recognize our own election, when He says: By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." Letter of Gregory the Great to Augustine.-(Neander from Bede.)

Be not high-minded, but fear, Rom, xi, 20.

When they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples. St. Mark iv. 34.

These were private explanations of the parables which Jesus had delivered to the multitudes in general. To the disciples only it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD. To them was it said "privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things which ye see.' There was a divine purpose in this mode of proceeding. In the disciples was concentrated, so to speak, the essence of Christian knowledge, which would have evaporated if it had been scattered around on the crowd of promiscuous hearers. The disciples were made, for the time, the depositories of that heavenly doctrine, which, as well-instructed scribes, they were to bring out in due season, for the benefit of many.

In this economy there was much that was peculiar ; and yet I may, with advantage, borrow from it something for my own use. Why should not I, too, have my select circle, consisting of the most advanced in Christian knowledge and experience, with whom I may enter into fuller converse and more particular instruction-not that I may keep it back from others, but that, through them, I may act with greater efficacy on those who are babes in Christ, or who are far off, on the outskirts of my mission? (See Acts xix. 9.)

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. St. Matt. x. 27.

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. St. Luke iv. 19.

The exceeding grace of our Lord, as shewn in His first proposals of mercy to sinners, is here declared by His omitting the concluding verse of the prophet Isaiah, which speaks in awful terms of "the day of vengeance of our God." He sought to win them by love.—(Rev. J. Ford.)

I have perceived that nothing so much hindereth the reception of the truth, as urging it on men with too harsh importunity, and falling too heavily on their errors; for hereby you engage their honour in the business, and they defend their errors, as themselves, and stir up all their wit and ability to oppose you.(Baxter.)

Let him who seeks by his conversation to persuade others to their duty, not be above these three things, namely, that he may instruct their minds, interest their attention, and bend their wills, ut doceat, delectet, flectet; so will they hear him intelligently, cheerfully, and obediently. (St. Aug.)

To declare things worthy of GOD is the work of a mind at rest, and free from outward distractions. For then only will the tongue be well guided in discourse, when the feelings are lulled to a tranquil peace; as the agitated water reflects not the image of him that looks upon it; but when it is still and motionless, then the gazer's countenance may be descried. (St. Greg.)

God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. v. 9.