TREE-SPARROWS. 
415 
a great multitude of people were collected, and our blessed Lord 
was pleased to address his disciples in their hearing. A caution 
against hypocrisy was given, followed by a most solemn injunction 
to fear God, and not man. 
" But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear : Fear him which, 
after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell ; yea, I say unto 
you, Fear him. Are not Jive sparrows sold for two farthings ? and 
not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs 
of your head are all numbered. Feax not, therefore, ye are of 
more value than many sparrows Such is the passage in the 
Gospel of St. Luke. 
In the Gospel of St. Matthew the same incident is thus re- 
lated : 
" And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to 
kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both 
soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for one fa.rthing ? 
and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. 
But the very hairs of your head are all numhered. Fear ye not, 
therefore, ye are of more value than many spa^-rows.^^ 
What a sublime view does it give us of the providence of God, 
that not one of these little birds should fall to the ground un- 
known to the Almighty Creator, that each one of these little 
creatures, the humblest and most insignificant of their race, is 
heeded and remembered before God ! This revelation of the direct 
nature of Divine Providence is, indeed, most precious and consol- 
ing ; it is impossible to possess a stronger assurance of the mercy, 
and wisdom, and power of God, as exercised toward us, than is 
given in these Avords of our Redeemer ; and there is no other pas- 
sage on this subject in Holy Scripture so full and clear. It 
