Priest and Levite, Luke x. 30-37. I say with greater force, because the former was a fact, and therefore the occurrence might be deemed a matter of mere incident. But this was a moral fiction invented by our Lord for the very purpose of mortifying the pride of the Jews, and of encouraging the hopes of those who were not amongst the descendants of Abraham. Though the act was one of mere humanity, and though the charity bestowed was by no means large or splendid; yet, it is evidently dwelt on with great complacency by Jesus. Here then is a proof, that acts of humanity are accounted deeds of piety in the sight of God, and that in this view, the simplest acts of kindness amongst Heathen nations may become precious in his sight, who "judges not as man judgeth."

"Towards evening," says Park, when he was travelling in the interior of Africa, "as I was sitting upon the Betang, (a seat in the market place,) chewing straws; an old female slave passing by with a basket on her head, asked me if I had got my dinner. As I thought that she only laughed at me,

I

gave her no answer; but my boy, who was sitting close by, answered for me, and told her, that the king's people had robbed me of all my money. On hearing this, the good old woman, with a look of unaffected benevolence, immediately took the basket from her head, and showing me that it contained some ground nuts, asked me if I could eat them; being answered in the affirmative, she presented me with a few handfulls, and walked away before I had time to thank her for this seasonable supply. This trifling circumstance gave me peculiar satisfaction. I reflected with pleasure on the conduct of this poor untutored slave, who, without examining my character or circumstances, listened implicitly to the dictates of her heart. Experience taught her that hunger was painful, and her own distresses made her commiserate those of others." vol. i. p. 104.

A still more beautiful picture of the tenderness and humanity which are sometimes associated with barbarism and savage life, is to be met with in the same volume. "I was obliged to sit all day without vic

tuals in the shade of a tree, and the night threatened to be very uncomfortable, for the wind rose, and there was a great appearance of heavy rain, and the wild beasts are so very numerous in the neighbourhood, that I should have been under the necessity of climbing up the tree, and resting amongst the branches. About sunset, however, as I was preparing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horse loose that he might graze at liberty, a woman, returning from the labours of the field, stopped to observe me, and perceiving that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my situation, which I briefly explained to her; whereupon with looks of great compassion, she took up my saddle and bridle and told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted up a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me, that I might remain there for the night. Finding I was hungry, she said, she would procure me something to eat. She, accordingly, went out, and returned in a short time with a very fine fish, which she broiled on some rushes,

and gave me for supper, &c. Her family came round, and sang the following song: The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words literally translated were these, 'The winds roared, and the rain fell, the poor white man faint and weary, came and sat under our tree, he has no mother to bring him milk, no wife to grind his corn,'" &c. &c. vol. i. p. 299, 300. At another time, he says, "I had almost marked out the place where I was doomed, I thought, to perish, when this friendly negro (Karfa) stretched out his hospitable hand for my relief," p. 386. On the hospitality of the Arabs to travellers, see Harmar's Observations, vol. ii. p. 222.

Such are some of the "splendida peccata" of Augustine, and such are the victims which are devoted even by Bishop Beveridge" to the devil and his angels."

SECTION LXVII.

The Pharisee and the Publican.

HERE again, we have a striking example that it was the pleasure and delight of Jesus to mortify the pride and self-righteousness of the Jews, and to encourage the humility and diffidence of the Gentiles. He delivers a parable in which a Pharisee and a publican are contrasted with each other. The one possesses every external advantage, he is exact and regular in all the ceremonials of religion; the other is by no means so correct and rigid, but he feels and laments his numerous failings. His prayer was so short and simple, that it might be offered by the most untutored savage. God be merciful to me a sin

ner."

If we call to mind the time and circumstances in which this parable was spoken, it seems scarcely possible to doubt, that by the publican was meant to be understood all