works. In the commencement of it, he restores a sick man to health by a word, without seeing him or coming near him. In the fourteenth verse, he stands by the bier of the widow's only son, he commands the dead body to arise—and the mother is no longer childless. Shortly after, the disciples of John come with the question, "Art thou he that should come, or look we for another?" And that they themselves might be able to answer it," many are cured of their infirmities, and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind, sight is given." No wonder that the multitude began to perceive that "a great prophet had risen up among them, and that God at length had visited his people."

Partaking perhaps somewhat in the general interest which had been excited. concerning him, "one of the Pharisees desired that he would eat with him." One of the Pharisees. One of that per verse number, who had rejected the preaching of John, alleging on account of his austere severity that he “had a

devil"--and who now observing the kindliness, and condescension, and familiarity of Jesus, found also in these opposite qualities an equal plea for unbelief, and exclaimed, "Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, the friend of publicans and sinners." Even one of this sect was so far persuaded by what he had seen or heard, that "he desired Jesus that he would eat with him." Our Lord enters at once into the Pharisee's house, and sits, or rather lies down to meat.

But it was not the Pharisee alone who felt an interest in Jesus-many others had their attention fixed upon him; and among the rest, one who was heavy laden with a sense of sin, one whose spirit was wounded and contrite; who was sorrowing after that sort of mourning which most of all needs a comforter; and who must have heard of Jesus (as it should seem) binding up the broken-hearted, healing the troubled in mind, and passing by the righteous that he might "call sinners to repentance '." "And behold

1 Matt. ix. 13.

a woman in the city which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."

We

Now mark, my brethren, in how very different a manner the Pharisee and his guest are affected by this spectacle. have already observed that the marvellous works of Jesus must have produced something like conviction in the mind of the former, or the Galilæan, as others of his sect contemptuously termed him, would not now be a partaker of his meal. But he was only half convinced. He believed he scarce knew what, and whether Jesus were the Messiah, or Elias, or one of the prophets, he had never perhaps seriously asked himself, or taken any pains to examine. At all events, whatever may have been his persuasions, the giving sight to the blind, and hearing to the

deaf, the cleansing of the lepers, and the restoration of the dead to life-all these striking and astonishing miracles, are at once forgotten, when he perceives that Jesus can suffer himself to be touched by one who had been a notorious sinner, without exhibiting any signs of loathing or repugnance. And " he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is which toucheth him, for she is a sinner."

And did he not know what manner of woman she was? Needed he that any should tell him from what source these rivers of tears were flowing? Vain Pharisee! All the sins and offences which have stained the life of this contrite mourner, are as open to the inspection of him that sitteth at meat with thee, as are the unworthy suspicions of thine own proud heart. That uncharitable condemnation of thy fellow-sinner, that injurious doubt about the truth of the pretensions of thy guest," thou spakest within thyself." But one is nigh thee to whom the inmost

thoughts are known, and thy rebuke shall be open and immediate !" And Jesus answering, (that which had been thought only, not uttered) said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee"(observe, my brethren, the gentleness and calmness of this commencement):"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty: and when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most ?-(Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged." Immediately the decision of the Pharisee is directed against himself; and how forcibly and beautifully is the application made! "And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman, since

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