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 self-opinionated Pharisees  He  must  have  seen throughout all  time,  zealous  for  the  letter  but  knowing nothing  of  the  spirit  of  the  law,  exaggerating  the accidentals of  religion  and  minimizing  or  altogether neglecting its  essentials,  anathematizing  all  who  dare to differ  with  them,  and  setting  apart  for  themselves as if  by  divine  right  the  very  first  place  in  the  kingdom of  heaven. But presently  His  eyes  meet  those of the  one  honest  man  there,  the  paralytic,  and  He sees  in  them  a  new  meaning,  a  dawning  understanding of  it  all,  a  kindling  faith  and  hope  and  love,  and then and  there  Christ  heals  him. " The  first  shall  be last,  and  the  last,  first." Christ is  the  real  host  there, and the  banquet  is  of  His  bounty:  His  end  of  the table is  really  the  head,  and  His  it  is  to  place  the guests. The last,  the  righteous,  are  now  first,  and the first,  the  religionists  and  hypocrites,  are  now  last, and verily  so  shall  it  be  in  God's  heavenly  kingdom.

Brethren, there  are  two  points  I  would  wish  to especially  impress  upon  you  to-day:  first,  that  a cheerful  disposition  and  innocent  amusement  are  not inconsistent with  true  religion;  and  secondly,  that we must  be  careful  not  to  set  up  a  monopoly  in  paradise and  its  mercies. It was  to  virtuous  Pagans  that St. Peter  said:  "  Verily  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter of  persons,  but  in  every  station  he  that feareth  Him  and  doeth  righteousness  is  accepted  of Him." Let us  not  be  too  hard  on  people  who  refuse to adopt  our  opinions,  rites,  and  ceremonies. After all, the  liturgy  of  primitive  Christianity  was  a  very simple affair,  and  we  would  doubtless  find  it  hard  to