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the hopes of his glory, will yield, even for the present, an hundred-fold more satisfaction than the possession of the greatest riches, or the enjoyment of the most tender and beloved relatives. How much more abundantly then will all be repaid in the heavenly state! And, if we cannot trust the promise of the Lord for it, we are no more real Christians than if we were publicly to worship mammon, or Plutus, with all the idolatrous rites of the ancient heathens.

SECTION LX.

MATTHEW Xx. 1—16.

FOR the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning, to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying, these last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said,

And

Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

May we by Divine grace appear in the happy number of those who are not only called, but chosen too! If we are first in privileges and opportunities, let us be careful that our improvement be proportionable; otherwise we shall be last, and see ourselves another day exceeded, and perhaps condemned, by those who stood in a rank much below us.

We are called to a course of holy labour, even to work in our Lord's vineyard, or in every station, whether public or private, to do our utmost to promote the glory of God and the happiness of mankind. Let us not, with so many calls and so many advantages, stand all the day idle; but let us be active and patient, and cheerfully willing to bear all the burden and heat of the day in so good a cause; knowing that ere long the evening will come, and that he who employs us saith, Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev. xxii. 12.)

Let such as have long neglected the great business of life be encouraged with this thought, that some were called at the eleventh hour: but let none presume on their having such a call, nor strain the parable so far as to imagine that an equal reward awaits all, without any regard to their characters or improvements; which is most contrary to the reason of things, to the word of God, and to the great intent of that day which is to render to every man according to his deeds. (Rom. ii. 6.)

The Gentiles are indeed now called to equal privileges with the Jews, to which this circumstance of the parable refers : and we all see how odious a temper it was in that favourite nation to be offended with the gospel on that account, which should rather have recommended it to their more joyful acceptance. Let us be careful to avoid every degree of envy, whoever may be put on a level with us, or preferred to us. Let us acknowledge the sovereign right of God to do what he will with his own, and let not our eye be evil, because he is good. To prevent this, let us labour after that unfeigned love to the brethren which never will allow us to repine at their advancement to the greatest privileges, but will engage us to behold the favours that are shewn them with delight and satisfaction, and to rejoice in their honour and happiness as

our own.

So shall we exchange the basest and most uneasy passion of human nature for that which is of all others the noblest and the most delightful.

SECTION LXI.

MATTHEW XX. 17-20.

MARK X. 32-45.

LUKE XVIII. 31-34.

AND they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took unto him the twelve disciples apart in the way, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock, to scourge, and to crucify him. And he shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him: saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. And the mother saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall

drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withall shall ye be baptized: but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John, and were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest among you, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Astonishing grace and compassion of the Son of God in going up to Jerusalem at this passover, when he so circumstantially knew all the things which were to befall him there! not only that he should be put to death, but in what manner he should suffer; and what cruelty and what scorn should introduce the last scene of his agonies! Yet, with so sad a prospect in his eye, he marched on with distinguished alacrity, leading the company, as if he longed to encounter what they could not bear to see, or even to hear of. Glorious Captain of our salvation, give us the like alacrity in all the sufferings we are called to bear for thee!

Who would not grieve to see these good apostles still so much possessed with the spirit of this world, and still dreaming of preferment in a temporal kingdom? Who would not especially lament it, that his most intimate friends, James, and John the beloved disciple, should be the persons who should come to him with this strange request? Justly did our Lord answer them, You know not what you ask. And may not the same answer often be made to us? When therefore he denies us the great things that we are seeking for ourselves, let us be satisfied with the denial he sees fit to give us; believing that it is wisdom and love, and not unkindness, that produces it.

Let us often ask ourselves, Can we share the sufferings which our Lord endured? If we do not desire to do it so far as he shall appoint, we are not worthy to be called his disciples. Let us then gird up the loins of our minds, and wait our Master's signal to go forth to any suffering or service that he shall require; ever ready to make ourselves the servants of all, and therein to imitate the humility of the Son of man, who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister: yet, after all we can do or bear for him, let our trust still be in the merits of his righteousness and blood who gave his life a ransom for many. So shall we be fitted for those distinguished honours in the heavenly world, in comparison with which thrones and sceptres on earth are but empty pageants and childish toys.

SECTION LXII.

LUKE XVIII. 35-43; XIX. 1.

MATT. XX. 29-34.

MARK X. 46-52.

AND it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him : And when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho; and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the high-way side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus

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