borers are reprefented as murmuring against their Lord, for the inadequate reward allotted to their fervices, and complaining that others, who had not deserved fo much, were put upon a footing with themfelves. How different must we suppose the feelings of the happy fouls who are admitted into thofe manfions of bliss; where even the leaft of the joys prepared for the righteous, are such as no eye hath seen, no ear hath heard, neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive. They will be fo far from wishing to alter their own fituation, or from murmuring at the lot of others, that the felicity of all around them will greatly heighten their

own.

With refpect to the thief on the cross, we must confider that, during the period he had lain in prifon previous to his execution, he had had time to repent of his paft wicked life, and had, probably, heard of the fame of Jesus and become a convert to his doctrine; but whether this were the cafe or not, how great must have been

his faith, who, seeing our Lord infulted, reviled, and at last brought to the same ignominious death with himself, could, under fuch circumstances (and even at the time when his own chofen disciples had forfaken him and fled) acknowledge him as the Son of God and Saviour of the world! Such a faith must have included in it a steady and unalterable purpose of amendment of life, had the opportunity offered; and, as fuch, was accepted by

his Saviour.

Since this is the only folitary inftance they can bring in fupport of their hopes, and this affords fuch ftrong proofs of the fincerity of the pardoned finner's repentance and steady faith, let us not truft our eternal salvation upon fuch flender grounds, but endeavor fo to live, and fo conftantly to look into the state of our fouls, that, fhould we be called on fuddenly, we may not be found unprepared; but, having our lamps trimmed, may enter in with the Bridegroom,

Our

Our bleffed Lord, in the above paffage, takes the fame method of comforting his difciples, as would be used by a tender parent about to quit his children for a time: encouraging them by affurances the most likely to fatisfy them at his absence. He points out to them, that their welfare and interest requires that he should leave them, to prepare better habitations for them; and that he would return and take them with him, never again to be feparated. Shall, then, thofe who have fuch glorious prospects to look forward to, murmur and be difcontented at their prefent fituation; because, in their passage to the eternal habitations promifed them, they meet with fome temporary troubles and inconveniences? Ought they not, rather, to be grateful to their heavenly Master that they can be but of fhort duration; and truft, in full confidence, to his wisdom, that they are neceffary; or God, who delights in the happiness of all his creatures, would not have impofed them on us. And shall man, weak man, who is fo frequently

quently at a lofs to understand the actions of his fellow-mortals, prefume to judge of the ways of God; to whose councils he is not admitted, and whose wife difpenfations must be so much above his limited com. prehenfion? As well might the clay fay to the potter, Why haft thou fashioned me thus ?

Let us, therefore, in perfect affurance that the way pointed out to us by Infinite Wisdom is the only fafe and certain road to happiness, persevere in it to the end, in spite of any obftacles we may encounter in the course of it.

Our Lord having added, that they knew whither he was going, and the way;

" 5% 5. Thomas faith unto him, Lord, we "know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

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"6. Jefus faith unto him, I am the and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by "me."

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From

From comparing the above declaration of our bleffed Lord, that he is the way, and the truth, and the life,' with another paffage in the Gofpel by St. Matthew, chapter vii. verses 13. 14. ("Enter ye in at "the ftrait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deftruction, and many there be which go "in thereat: because strait is the gate, and "narrow is the way, which leadeth unto

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life, and few there be that find it,") we fhall, I think, be able to discover the true meaning of the latter paffage, and which, according to my idea, has been greatly misconstrued, in fuppofing it a declaration that the greatest part of mankind fhould perish, notwithstanding the means of falvation fo dearly purchased for them by the sufferings and death of Jefus Chrift. To understand many texts of Scripture, it is neceffary to apply to the context: now it appears to me, from confidering the two paffages with a reference to each other, that 'the gate' and 'the way' are intended to defcribe the Chriftian

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