pent’s head, and only bruising his tail; for in the latter case, the serpent may be as lively and active as ever, whereas, in the former case, both his life and activity are destroyed.
49. There is a remarkable passage in the prophet Amos, (chap. iv. 6,) I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places, yet have ye not returned to Me, saith the Lord; denoting that the church was busied in external purification, but not in internal; she had a clean outside, but was void of heavenly good within.
50. The wise men, in worshipping Jesus Christ, open their treasures, and present gifts, &c., (see Matt. ii. 11,) to teach us, that it is always a necessary part of worship to open our interiors to our heavenly Father, and present to Him all the gifts which are there stored up, even the treasures of His grace, and return them to Him, in the devout acknowledgment that they are His.
51. The Lord saith, When thou art bidden of any one to a wedding, sit not down in the highest place, lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him. (Luke xiv. 8.) The motive to humility here urged by Jesus Christ seems intended, in its literal sense and meaning, to suggest the salutary apprehension, that others may be more honourable than ourselves; but in its spiritual sense and signification, it appears to teach a still more edifying lesson, by alluding to the preeminence of charity over all speculative principles of
