how illustrious a degree of knowledge and power our Lord discovered in the case before us; knowledge, in penetrating into the bowels of this animal, though in the sea; and power, in directing this particular fish to Peter's hook, though he himself was at a distance. Hardly any circumstance can be imagined more fit to encourage him and his brethren in a firm dependence on Divine Providence. And it is very natural to reflect how easily Christ could, if he had seen fit, have drawn up immense treasures, by this very method, from the heart of the sea: but he intended that his servants should be enriched and adorned in a much nobler manner, than with pearls and costly array.'

Having thus noticed the several particulars of the narrative, let us endeavour to deduce some instruction from it.

1. In the first place, we may profitably contemplate the humble condition of our Lord. He had not, it appears, the small sum, amounting to about fifteen pence each of our money, which was requisite to meet the demand upon himself and the disciple with whom he dwelt ;-otherwise he would not have had recourse to a miracle on the occasion. Only a short time before, indeed, a display of his glory had been exhibited to this and two other favoured disciples, on the Mount of Transfiguration. Doubtless, that glory presented an amazing contrast to the poverty of his earthly condition. In its excellence it infinitely surpassed the most transcendent worldly splendour. Yet may we suppose that even that was faint and

feeble, compared with the glory of his heavenly state. And oh, my brethren, while we contemplate what we cannot apprehend,-while we endeavour to ascend in lofty thought to the highest elevation of his celestial throne, and thence descend, not merely to the meanness of his terrestrial abode, and the poverty of his outward circumstances as a sojourner upon earth, but to the lowest degradation of his ignominious cross,let us remember, with mingled feelings of wonder and gratitude, the cause of this stupendous contrast! Oh may we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich!”— Oh let us not frustrate his design of love and mercy, by refusing to seek an interest in the mighty work which he has accomplished by the sacrifice of himself once offered! So to do, would be to indicate unparalleled ingratitude, and to incur inevitable destruction.

The lowly condition of our blessed Saviour when he sojourned in this world, should teach us also to be contented in that state of life in which the Providence of God has placed us. Nay, more than this;-for surely we have reason to be not only contented, but thankful, whatever may be our outward lot in the world, when we remember, that the Lord of heaven and earth submitted to poverty, privations and hardships, when he came, in love and compassion, to seek and to save that which was lost!

2. We should learn from the conduct of our Lord, to avoid even the appearance of evil, where the omission

of some service not absolutely obligatory on ourselves, may have an injurious effect on the minds of others. Had our Lord refused to pay the customary tribute towards the maintenance of the temple-worship, a powerful prejudice might have been unnecessarily raised against himself and his doctrine, as though they were unfriendly to the interests of religion; and others, who could not have advanced the same plea which he had a right to urge, might have been induced, by his example misunderstood, to dishonour God in withholding the tribute which they were reasonably and justly expected to pay for the services of the sanctuary. After the example of our blessed Lord then, we should be willing to wave our privileges and exemptions where we possess them, rather than put a stumblingblock in the way of those who have not sufficient wisdom and discrimination to distinguish between different circumstances and cases. 'Christ' here 'teaches us to avoid the scandal and sinister suspicions of men, though they be groundless,' and though such a course should be adopted 'with some detriment to ourselves.'1 May we then be at all times prepared to make such sacrifices as may be required, where the cause of God, and the interests of his holy religion are concerned !

3. This short narrative should encourage us to trust in the Providence of God for the supply of our real wants. We are not indeed to be hankering after affluence, or looking for large and extensive possessions much less are we to suppose that a miracle

:

'Whitby in loc.

will be wrought in our behalf. But if, in the diligent discharge of our respective duties, we humbly trust in God, and habitually resort to him for his blessing, though he may not suffer us to be wholly free from the trials and privations of poverty, or contracted circumstances, he will, in due time, open to us unexpected sources of relief, and afford us renewed cause of gratitude and praise. Let us beware, then, my brethren, of undue anxiety respecting the supply of our temporal necessities,―the securing of those provisions which are essential to us in the present world. May we constantly remember the admonition and the promise of our Lord on this particular subject: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

4. We learn also the duty of cheerfully paying our respective proportions to the service of the sanctuary, and to the support of secular government. Both these branches of duty are recognised in the argument of our Lord; and we find him elsewhere delivering his authoritative doctrine in these plain and explicit terms: "Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's." In exact unison with this command is the apostolic injunction, "Render therefore to all their dues : tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." Every evasion or subterfuge, therefore, of those taxes, whether ecclesiastical or civil, which are imposed by proper authority, is at once contrary to the example of our Lord, and at variance with the

precepts of his holy religion. The root' of these offences, it has been accurately observed, is a worldly mind, and the cure must be that grace of God which enables a man to overcome the world, and to look for his portion and happiness beyond the grave.

1

5. Finally, my brethren, we may rest assured that He who supplies the temporal necessities of his people, will not fail to grant them spiritual blessings, which are infinitely more important, out of his inexhaustible fulness. He came into the world, that he might purchase for them these inestimable blessings with the price of his most precious blood. He came "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." What he died to purchase, he ever lives to bestow. Let us, however, at all times bear in mind, that for the constant supply of our necessities, for the renewal of our strength, for the continual communications of his Holy Spirit, we must resort to him in the daily exercise of faith and prayer. Animated, then, by a conviction of the power and love of our great and glorious Redeemer, "let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Let us "ask, and we shall receive, that our joy may be full."

1 Thoughts on Romans xiii. 7.-Detached Papers in the Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. Samuel Knight, A. M. late Vicar of Halifax, the Author's revered and beloved Father.