us; it will be just as we read; and according as we hear, so will it be done to us. SECTION XXXII. Chap. xiii. ver. 44-58. PARABLE OF HIDDEN TREASURE, &c. 44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field:" the blessings of it are inestimable, and cannot be too dearly purchased by us. So says this and the next parable. Christ, therefore, now comes nearer to the soul, and puts us upon searching into our own disposition and sense of the matter, whether we do indeed value the kingdom of heaven in some proportion to its worth, and prefer our portion in it to all the world. "The which when a man hath found." When his eyes are opened; when he sees himself inexpressibly poor without the treasure of the gospel, peace with God, the graces of the Spirit, and the hope of eternal life, and knows that he shall be rich to the height of his wishes in the possession of it. This is a happy finding; and when we once come to this point, we shall have Christ at any rate. "He hideth :" esteemeth, as men do what they hide, and lay up. "And for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Let us persuade ourselves to ask our hearts what is our great joy, and if we must part with every thing but one, what it would be? 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls : 46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. So we naturally seek rest for our souls, ease, and contentment, in one worldly thing after another. Be instructed; the search is vain, and all our endeavours fruitless. Happiness never comes but with the pearl of great price. May you, may all have it?-Yes, blessed be God, it is here offered to every one of us, and this is our call to seek after it. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So it appears the kingdom of heaven, or church of Christ, consists of a mixture of good and bad. We are gathered into it by baptism and outward profession; but, if this is all, you will one day be cast out of it for ever. Let this be a warning to you to make deep search into yourselves. 49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, We cannot possibly be numbered with the just, if we are not first separated from evil in this world. will be too late to repent. Then it 50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Nothing can be plainer, and yet they are not understood, according to Christ's meaning, unless they are well considered, prayed over, and applied to the state of our own souls. 52. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an housholder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. He must have all kinds of instruction ready at hand, and be able to turn himself into all shapes, for the good of his hearers. It is well if many individuals furnish out such a scribe. 53. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55. Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas ? 56. And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57. And they were offended in him. A little matter will serve for a handle against those who preach a pure religion; and the quarrel is with that, whatever is pretended. 57. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. Where the man is seen as well as the prophet. Let not others, therefore, wonder that they are most despised, where they are most known. 58. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. He knew it would be in vain; their unbelief, as it were, tied his hands. His mighty work here is our conversion. God be merciful to us, and perform it in us mightily. SECTION XXXIII. Chap. xiv. ver. 1-12. HEROD'S OPINION OF CHrist. 1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2. And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. But all to no purpose. Whether the mighty works were done by John Baptist risen from the dead, or Jesus, he was Herod still. We know they were the works of Jesus, and to what end they were wrought. Are we not then more hardened than Herod, if we are not converted by them? 3. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. Especially, as his brother was living. What undaunted boldness in this servant of God! If thou hast no zealous minister, or faithful friend to tell thee of thy sin, let thy ówn conscience do it. For does not the law say, does not Christ say to thee, concerning every sin, it is not lawful? We hear them, and, perhaps, with some degree of respect and fear, as Herod did John, and yet the sin is retained. 5. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. It is wonderful to consider how men are withheld by the secret providence of God from doing all the mischief they would, and what obstacles he lays in their way. Nevertheless, Herod was not restrained by principle, and, therefore, nature at last prevailed. It is worth our while to observe this, that we may look well to the ground of our hearts, and know whether we are preserved from the commission of sin, by the fear of God and hatred of it, or by such motives only as leave sin in us in its full strength, and do not alter our condition in the sight of God. Herod was just the same man before he cut off John's head. 6. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. There is hardly a more remarkable instance to be met with of the sweetness of revenge, and the strong workings of lust, ambition, and cruelty, than this of Herodias. John would have parted her from Herod, and, to glut her eyes with the sight of his head in a dish, was more pleasing to her than all that could be given to her daughter. Besides the evils which fell on Herod and Herodias, on account of this incestuous marriage, it is related of the daughter, that her head was severed from her body by her falling into the ice.* 9. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. This is a lively picture of wicked men, doing evil with some check and reluctance, and running themselves upon trouble with their eyes open. Had he feared an oath, this would have been more religiously broken than kept. Probably, however, the attendants urged his oath, to make their court to Herodias. 10. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother. 12. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. The evangelist makes no remark upon the atrocity of the conduct of Herod; but leaves the awful narrative to * See Whitby. |