labourers, though aided by the grace of God, shall shine in glory like stars of the first magnitude.

But the glory of celestial spirits, of every rank and order, will be great, and it will have no end. Earthly glory fades; but the glory of heaven will never fade. It will shine in all its splendour, when the earth and the visible heavens have passed away. Here every thing is changing; there every thing is fixed and permanent. The wise shall shine as the stars "for ever and ever." How cheering are the prospects of a wise and useful man! He may not rise high in the honours of this world; but he will hold a distinguished rank in the world of spirits. There degrees of glory are suited to the capacities of the blessed, and to their works; but there will be no contention for superiority; no ambition in the highest; no envy in the lowest ; but all will be glorious and completely happy.

We cannot describe their glory. It is ineffable. But we can affirm that they will be glorious in holiness; that their bodies will be glorious after the resurrection; that their employments will be glorious; that their companions will be glorious; and that their rank and dignity will be glorious. We know but little of that world; but we know this, that "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." Col. iii, 4. With this view of the subject we are quite satisfied. Surely it is enough for the servant to be like his Lord! What more can any created being desire?

These rewards will be given, but they have not been deserved. They are of grace; but no less welcome on that account. All our works are imperfect before God. They weigh nothing in the balances of merit. We have no merit. "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord." Ps. xxxvii, 39. It is his pleasure that we should work for him; and it is his pleasure to reward our imperfect works. To him be glory for ever!

Are these things true? Then let us be wise; and let us endeavour to turn many to righteousness. Our time is short; and there is no work in the grave. Let us join heart and hand in this good, this great, this important work; and may God give us counsel and strength to labour on at his command; and may we offer all our works to him! And now "to God, only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever!" Amen.

SERMON CXXI.

THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. LUKE XV,

32.

THE proud and self-righteous Pharisees watched the conduct of Jesus with an evil eye. His compassionate regard for sinners excited their

envy, kindled their malignant passions into a flame, and exposed him to the grossest insults. In this parable, those haughty hypocrites are severely reproved; but awakened and penitent sinners are kindly encouraged to hope for mercy. Here we see the consequences of folly and vice; the temper and conduct of a true penitent; the mercy of God to all who turn to him; and the envious boasting of formal professors.

I. THE CONSEQUENCES OF FOLLY AND VICE.

A certain man had two sons, who dwelt together under his paternal roof; and who might have enjoyed every needful comfort under his watchful care. The elder was a sober, steady, careful youth; but the younger was thoughtless, careless, and bent on pleasure. He was anxious to see the world, to live without restraint, and to be his own master. To this end, he solicited the portion of goods that fell unto him; and presently departed into a far country. There he spent all he had in riotous living; and when a famine arose in the land, he was reduced to a state of extreme want. To supply the pressing wants of hunger, he engaged in the base drudgery of feeding swine; "and would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; but no man gave unto him."

Thus the descendants of Noah remained together for a considerable time after the flood, and acknowledged God as their Father; but, in process of time, the younger branches of the family departed from the Lord, and fell into gross idolatry. The family of Abraham, which descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah, remained in their father's house. When the younger branches of the family departed from God, they lost divine truth; wandered from the path of duty; lost divine comfort; and plunged themselves into the depths of misery. Then they began to feel the want of religious consolation, and sought it in the degrading worship of dumb idols; but they never found it, and they never will find it, until they return to their God and Father. All they have suffered, in their dark and sinful state, may be traced up to their foolish wanderings from Divine truth and Divine worship!

But this parable should be applied to profligate youth, who shake off the restraints of religion, and abandon themselves to folly and vice.

The first step of the younger brother shows his folly. He slighted the advantages of paternal government; exposed himself to the dangerous snares of a wicked and deceitful world; and was an utter stranger to his own inexperience and weakness. Thus many young men, weary of paternal authority, rush into the world. They had a pious education, attended the ordinances of religion, and were children of many prayers; but now they dwell with drunkards and harlots, give themselves up to unhallowed pleasures, and set at nought the counsel and government of God. In this deplorable state they debase themselves, extinguish every virtuous and manly feeling, and lose every dignified and refined pleasure of life and godliness.

Folly is the parent of vice; and vice is the parent of sorrow. These principles are strikingly illustrated in the character of the prodigal son; and they plainly appear in the case of every profligate sinner. When

the young man foolishly left his father's house, he abandoned himself to idleness, luxury, and debauchery. Thus one vice leads to another, and the sinner is carried forward in his evil course to the blackest crimes. These produce suffering and sorrow. The prodigal loses his character, his property, his health, and every comfort; he is covered with shame; he is reduced to want; he is shunned by the virtuous; and, when he has spent his all, he is abandoned by the vicious. If he persevere in folly and sin, he will be lost for ever; but if he repent, he will find mercy.

II. THE TEMPER AND CONDUCT OF A TRUE PENITENT.

When a sinner begins to reflect on his awful condition, and is awakened out of his wild and airy dreams, he comes to himself; and this is the first thing that is said of the poor prodigal, while he was feeding swine in a far country, "he came to himself." Men of the world boast of reason; but their boasting is folly. Every wicked man is beside himself. He acts the part of a fool. He risks his eternal salvation for the momentary pleasures of sin; and he seeks death in the error of his ways.

Å penitent reflects on the comfort and happiness of good men, and on his own want and misery. Thus the prodigal said, "How many of my father's servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger." All who are in the family of God are fed and nourished with the bread of life, and enjoy every necessary blessing; but wandering sinners, who feed on vain pleasures, are hungry and perishing for want of substantial food.

These views and feelings in the heart of a penitent bring him to a speedy resolution to return to his father's house; and he says, with the prodigal, "I will arise, and go to my father." This is the beginning of wisdom, and the first step towards happiness; for he who returns to his God and Father, returns to peace and plenty. May every poor prodigal come to a speedy decision on this important subject! This moment arise, and go to thy Father. The next may be too late.

But how does a penitent go to his Father? Does he form a plan of self-defence? Does he furnish himself with excuses for his folly? Far from it. He goes and says, "I have sinned;" he says, "I am unworthy to be called thy son ;" and he prays to be made as " a hired servant.' Those who are brought into this state of mind are not far from the kingdom of God. They seek mercy, and God will be merciful.

III. THE MERCY OF GOD TO ALL WHO TURN TO HIM.

When the prodigal was immersed in luxury and uncleanness, he forgot his father; but we cannot suppose that the father forgot his son. Thus men forget God; but God does not forget them. While there was any hope of the prodigal's return, his father looked out for him; and while there is any hope of a sinner's repentance, Divine mercy looks out for his return. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Ezek. xviii, 32.

At length the poor prodigal returned. "But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on

his neck, and kissed him." And does God behold the rising desire of a penitent sinner, and his first approach to the mercy-seat, even while he is yet far off? This sentiment is finely expressed in the following pas"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer: and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isai. lxv, 24.

sage:

The father of the prodigal might have remained in his house; he might have shut the door against his son; and he might have refused to hear him. This would have been stern justice; but mercy had a place in his heart. This induced him to watch for his son's return; and this led him to run and meet him. Thus our heavenly Father might cast us off for ever; but he is merciful; and "the foulest offender may turn and find grace."

When the father met his son, he did not reprove his vile conduct; but fell on his neck and kissed him. What a fine display of paternal love! And in this way our Father, who is in heaven, receives returning sinners. They are not upbraided for past offences; they are not received with cold indifference; but are kindly embraced in the arms of mercy and love! Then let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. iv, 16.

But the prodigal son, notwithstanding this kind reception, makes humble confession of his sin, as he had previously resolved to do, when he came to himself, in a far country; and every penitent, whose soul is humbled under a sense of sin, will confess to God, and acknowledge his utter unworthiness to receive what his Father waits to give. Thus, while we behold the generosity of the father, and the humility of the son, let us learn to repose confidence in God, and humble ourselves before him in dust and ashes.

The son says, "Father, I have sinned." The father says, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet." And when we return to God, covered with the filthy rags of sin, we are clothed with holiness, and arrayed in the beautiful garments of salvation. Our guilt is removed; our disgrace is forgotten; and we are restored to the family of God.

But this was not all: the fatted calf was killed; a feast was provided; and they were merry.* And does not God, with his holy angels, and all his saints, rejoice over one sinner that repenteth? And this joy is like the joy of a festival occasion, when they eat and drink, and are merry; and let us rejoice when the dead are made alive, and when the lost are found.

IV. THE ENVIOUS MURMURINGS AND BOASTINGS OF FORMAL PROFESSORS. The elder son, who had remained at home, was angry. What a pity it is that envious men should indulge this passion when others are made happy! Anger against sin is God-like; but anger against mercy is diabolical. He said scornfully, "This thy son ;" but the father reproved

*Both here, and wherever else this word occurs, whether in the Old Testament or the New, it implies nothing of levity, but a solid, serious, religious, heart-felt joy. Indeed this was the ordinary meaning of the word two hundred years ago, when our translation was made.-WESLEY in loc.

him by saying, "This thy brother." This turn of expression is inimitably beautiful!

He boasted of his goodness. The Pharisees boasted of their goodness; and formal Christians follow their example; but no man who knows himself, will boast before the Lord; for all have sinned and come short of his glory. And "if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" Ps. cxxx, 3.

But the elder son envied his brother; and reproached his father. Thus some men, who pretend to a great deal of religion, quarrel with God because he is gracious; and would rather see the damnation of a sinner, than a display of mercy to the objects of their envy and hatred. But these men, like the Scribes and Pharisees, are a disgrace to human nature in its most degraded state.

The reply of the father, which was manly and dignified, silenced the murmuring and envious son. Why dost thou find fault with my conduct? Have I robbed thee? "Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine;" and what wouldst thou have more than this? Why may not thy brother share my bounty? It was meet, and it became a father, to rejoice over him; for he was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

He who has no religion, is in a more hopeful state than the man whose heart is hardened against mercy by a false religion; and some of our prodigals are more likely to be saved, than many self-righteous and boasting professors. The openly wicked have no plea but that of mercy; but proud professors see no need of that grace. Who, then, is most likely to seek salvation by Jesus Christ? The boasting Pharisee? or the humbled prodigal? O let us pray to be delivered from envy and hatred, and all uncharitableness; and let us rejoice when the vilest of our race, whether Jews or Gentiles, obtain mercy! To God be glory for ever. Amen.

SERMON CXXII.

THE BODY AND THE EAGLES.

Wheresoever he body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. LUKE Xvii, 37.

SIN has a voice which is heard in heaven. It may be committed secretly and silently; but it will be punished openly by loud and terrible judgments. What then shall we say of undisguised and daring sins? Will not they be punished! Can a wicked nation, or a wicked church, escape from the wrath of God? It was predicted of the Messiah, that he should "proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the