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النشر الإلكتروني

XVI.

MATT. XII. MARK II. 23.

THE type of the pilgrim's everlasting rest once more comes round,-the promised Sabbatism to which God's people have ever looked for solace and encouragement in the midst of those trials which are their appointed lot in their pilgrimage through this thorny maze.

Fatigued with the toil of six days, and weary of the din of the crowded city, and feeling sorrow in our hearts which man cannot heal, let us on this fair Sabbath morning wander forth into the peaceful fields. Invited by the shade of this overhanging mass of granite, whose base is cooled by the runnel which never fails, even in the thirstiest season; and with the golden field of ripened corn on one side, and in the distance the sea of Gennesaret, (so called from the delightful

gardens which line its shores,) from whose waters the purple shade of the dark bills is reflected, we will give our souls up to meditation and to prayer ;-fit preparation for the worship of the synagogue. The waving of the corn, as the breezes from the lake play lightly over its surface, and the soft soothing murmur of the brook, tranquillize the soul. When the mind contemplates these as the works of God, there will be a composure and calm which is not to be obtained from a contemplation of the finest exhibitions of genius, or the most harmonious arrangement of natural objects viewed without a reference to their Creator.

Short, it seems, is to be our retirement! for behold, many are descending from the town, and are making for this spot. As they approach it is obvious that some are watching the others with a severe scrutiny. They are near enough for me to distinguish, that one company consists of our ever blessed Lord, who is accompanied by his disciples.

The Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, walks through the works of his own creation, returning

from some of his early labours of love. He is not borne upon a proud steed, or in a gorgeous chariot, nor surrounded by a stately array of guards or courtiers; but he is upon foot and accompanied by a few men of low estate, his chosen friends-when they are an-hungered, their simple appetite is easily gratified, even as on the present occasion, with the ears of corn rubbed out in their hands.

And how is it that I, who am thus privileged to witness so continually the course and conversation of the lowliest and loftiest of beings, should be so little influenced thereby? Day by day I follow the mighty master, and see him put aside all the pomps and vanities of this world, which we have been taught to esteem, as unworthy of a thought. It is not long since he declared that even allowed and lawful enjoyments, which have nothing in them of a low and sensual kind, must not come in competition with the service we owe Him. "He that loveth Father, or mother, or brethren, or sisters, or wife, or children, more than me, is not worthy of me." Shall I then habitually behold him choosing shame

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and rebuke, shall I perceive his humility and suffering, and never be led by it to feel how delusive and dangerous, is the whole inventory of Mammon, which by the world is so valued. The soft luxury and the glittering appointments of the great, what are they? a lie," and "if laid in the balance, altogether lighter than vanity." He came to teach their real value, and oh that his example may completely, and for ever, unloose us from those fetters of spiritual darkness which imprison the soul, and prevent it from looking with a settled composure on every thing relating to the flesh. I now earnestly desire their removal, for I see how little attachment his servants ought to have to any thing here below. We seek his kingdom as our chief good; therefore whether our state in temporal things be better or worse, it matters little, if our hearts are kept in peace by being wholly stayed upon Him.

But now a second party has advanced close to the first, who are cavilling at the act of the hungry disciples, and are easily discerned to be Pharisees.

Our Lord refers them to David, "when he was an hungered, and they that were with him, how he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shew-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests;" which apparently was a much greater violation of the law, than that committed by rubbing out the corn from the husk on the sabbath-day.

The law of nature must be obeyed, which requires that the calls of hunger should be satisfied, and hence the conduct of David and of the disciples was equally justifiable. Moreover our Lord reminds the Pharisees, that the sacrifices of the Temple require the performance, by the priests, of various servile works on the Sabbath-day, and then proclaims himself to be greater than the Temple. It is manifest that whatever may enable his followers more perfectly to serve him, is lawful.

Having vindicated his dignity, our Lord declares that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Ungrateful man forgets that when the seventh day was appointed

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