and the love of the world, since as a mountain, in a good sense, is representative and significative of heavenly love, so in the opposite sense it is representative and significative of infernal love, according to which latter sense a caution is given in the prophet against the feet stumbling upon the dark mountains, (Jer. xiii. 16;) and again, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, (Jer. xxi. 25;) and again, Every mountain shall be brought low, (Isaiah xi. 4;) not to mention many other passages from the sacred Scriptures to the same purpose. It is added, on this occa◄ sion, in the gospel according to Luke, that this same faith is capable of removing a sycamoretree, for thus it is written, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say to this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you, (chap. xvii. 6,) where by a sycamine tree is to be understood the persuasion of what is false originating in evil. JESUS CHRIST would there fore here teach us the power of a divine faith, by virtue of which a true Christian is enabled to remove from himself all infestations, whether arising from evil or from error, and to cast them into the infernal pit from whence they proceed. It is therefore lastly added, Nothing shall be impossible to you, because under the influence of the above faith, the true Christian connects his will with the divine will, his wisdom with the divine wisdom, and his ability with the divine ability, in such a sort, that he can no longer will, desire, or endeavour to obtain any thing but

R

what is in agreement with the will, the desire, and the operation of His HEAVENLY FATHER, and thus all things are possible to Him, because all His inclinations and purposes are submitted to the inclinations and purposes of the MOST HIGH.

Q. But it is added lastly, Iowbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting what instruction do you learn from these words? .. A. By these words JESUS CHRIST would teach the importance and necessity of two other Christian duties, in addition to the grace of a divine faith, one of which He calls prayer, and the other fasting; and He would further instruct us, that there are certain assaults from the powers of darkness, which cannot be successfully opposed, but by the combined force of those two duties.

Q. And what do you conceive to be the proper nature and meaning of those duties?

A. By prayer, as the term is usually applied in the sacred Scriptures, I am to understand an opening of the interiors of the human mind towards heaven and its GOD, by virtue of a devout desire implanted by the ALMIGHTY to become partaker of His life, and to enter into the bless→ edness of an eternal conjunction with Him in love: and by fasting, I am further to understand a closing of the exteriors of the mind against the deceitful and insinuating delights of the senses, by denying the concupiscencies of the world and the flesh, which would intrude themselves under the semblance of real and substantial goods.

Fasting indeed is often limited to a more confined meaning, as implying only an occasional abstinence from particular kinds of bodily food, and in some cases from all food; but according to the most general acceptation of the term, it denotes not only abstinence from bodily food, but from mental also, which latter abstinence consists in denying to the mind its favourite external gratifications, whensoever they interfere with the internal superior and spiritual joys of the immortal soul. Prayer and fusting are accordingly joined together by the BLESSED JESUS as Christian duties, because whilst the former opens the mind towards heaven, and renders it admissive of heavenly influence, the latter shuts the door against the powers of darkness, and thus prevents those powers from intruding upon and disturbing the life, the peace, and the order of heaven, which enter in at the other door.

Q. What then is the general instruction which you derive from this miracle?

.

A. By the literal sense of the miracle I learn an additional testimony in favour of the omnipotence of the GREAT REDEEMER, and am thus led to a more profound adoration of Him as the> ONLY GOD of heaven and earth. At the same time, from the spiritual sense of the miracle, Iam instructed in several interesting particulars, respecting that order of spiritual or regeneratelife, which is prescribed to all Christians; as first, that when the knowledge of the truth is first admitted into the human understanding, it is frequently infested by false persuasions originating.

with the powers of darkness; secondly, that this infestation can only be successfully combated by faith in the INCARNATE GOD, or in the DIVINE HUMANITY of JESUS CHRIST; thirdly, that this faith is all-powerful, insomuch that there is no mountain of evil, of difficulty, and of danger, which it cannot remove, nor any noxious plant of erroneous persuasion, which it cannot cast into the sea; fourthly, that besides this grace of faith, the sincere Christian is gifted also with the two graces of prayer and fasting, by the united aid of which he is enabled to control the powers of darkness, and gain victories over himself and them, which could not otherwise be effected. I am resolved, therefore, to cherish henceforth in my mind and life, above all other things, these three Christian graces of faith, of prayer, and of fasting, under a full confidence that through their aid I shall be enabled, not only to over. come all spiritual infestation in my understanding, but also to remove from my heart and life every opposing evil, and to surmount every diffi, culty and perplexity which would thwart me in my good purpose to become a regenerate Christian. Thus may I humbly hope to find realized in myself what is written in the above history, where it is said, the child was cured from that very hour, together with those other blessed words of my SAVIOUR GOD, nothing shall be im, possible unto you. AMEN.

101:

The PIECE of MONEY FOUND in the FISH'S MOUTH.

MATT. xvii. 24 to the end.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute-money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tribule? &c. &c.

Q. WHAT do you understand here by the

word tribute?

A. According to its literal sense it means a tax imposed by the Roman government on all those who were not Roman citizens, and thus free men; but according to the spiritual idea, by tribute is to be understood a mark of servitude, and therefore, according to this idea, the inquiry, Doth not your Master pay tribute, is an inquiry respecting the principles of servitude and of freedom, and who are the subjects of those principles.

Q. But it follows, that Peter replies to this question in the affirmative, saying, Yes; and that when he was come into the house, JESUS prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? af