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in this respect, is the main scope of the parable. Blessed be God, we may be hired into his service. We, too, have had our call early in the morning of our childhood. But to what purpose does Christ make us the offer, if we refuse it ? Let us, therefore, have an eye to this in the explanation of the parable, and consider for ourselves whether we have entered into the vineyard, and what we are doing

in it.

"To hire labourers into his vineyard." Labourers ; mark that. Not idle drones, sleeping over their work ; but knowing what it is, and following it with a suitable diligence.

2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

These were the usual wages of a labourer, about eightpence of our money. But keep it in mind, that Christ's penny is no less than heaven, and you will know at once that the reward is not of debt, but of grace. And need you be told that it is richly worth all your labour?

3. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place.

Nine o'clock in the morning. Young men and women, lose not your golden season of coming to Christ. You will be apt to reckon that a great part of your day is yet before you; but take heed that this thought does not seal you up in blindness all your lives. Christ says, "Go ye into the vineyard;" and his meaning is, with respect to all, the moment you are bidden.

4. And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right I will give you.

Lord, thou art a gracious master, payest infinitely more than we can deserve, and thy promise is our right. Grant we may not lose it by refusing thy work.

4. And they went their way.

What would you have thought of them, if it had been

said, they did not go? See then, if you do not go, how your own consciences will condemn you.

5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

The Jews begun their day at six in the morning; so the sixth hour was their noon. Are you in the middle, or the decline of life, and yet out of the vineyard? O hear your call! You know your day is spending apace.

6. 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?

The eleventh is a late hour indeed; the last but one; and to leave all till then, is most dangerous presumption. But blessed be the grace and patience of God, there is yet hope for such, if they make haste, and escape for their lives. "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" You may have been a careful, pain's-taking man for this world all your life; but this is nothing to Christ. If his work has been neglected, this reproof is for you; and if it does not now pierce you to the heart, death is at the door, and you are in the utmost danger of being lost for ever. Minister! are these words nothing to thee?

7. 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.

You will not have this to say, that no man hath offered to hire you. You have had many calls and invitations from Christ, and turned a deaf ear to them all. Nevertheless, he has one more for you, before you drop into the grave. Hear it, and be astonished at his goodness. "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." O you who are old, tremble for your danger, and let your own conscience tell you what right you can have to receive anything from your Lord, but by his own free bounty.

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8. 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.

The evening will come! parting; and think what a out in blessing the Lord Jesus for bringing you into his vineyard, and calling you to receive your hire. "Call the labourers." Those who have read and loved the Scriptures; prayed in secret, and with their families; kept the sabbath; frequented the sacrament; used all the means of grace, and sincerely endeavoured to obey all the commandments; and all from a root of faith. "Beginning from the last to the first." Why so? Why begin with the last? To show that the reward of all is of grace, and the last, by God's free gift, equally entitled to it with the first.

Fancy your last breath is dehappy time it will be, if it goes

9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12. 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.

Concerning the Jews murmuring against the Gentiles for being put on an equality with them in the favour of God, there can be no doubt: but in the other way of interpretation, can it be imagined that any should be displeased at seeing others as amply rewarded as themselves? Yes; as sure as men are apt to overvalue themselves, and think too meanly of others. And, I suppose, all are here called upon to know themselves; and reminded, that though their hire is by agreement, yet that agreement is merely of the good pleasure of God.

13. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong didst not thou agree with me for a penny ?

No, blessed God, thou doest no one any wrong.

Thou

art good, and dost good. We are unworthy of the least of thy mercies. Humble us in the dust, and deliver us from the guilt of pleading with thee.

14. Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16. So the last shall be first, and the first last for many be called, but few chosen.

The Jews, though first called, and first in covenant with God, shall be last, by casting themselves out of it. With respect to others, it does not seem to follow from the parable, that the first, though murmuring, will be utterly rejected; but that all, coming into the vineyard, first and last, all together, shall receive their reward; none having a title to it but by the free grace of God, who is abundant in mercy to all, and must not be questioned for his manner of dispensing it." For many be called, but few chosen." To higher degrees of favour; or, not chosen at all. Can you hear this without being concerned for yourselves? Examine yourselves. You see you are not therefore chosen, because you are called; that is, called to be Christians, but only so in name. Consider how, and when, you obeyed your call; and whether you are now labouring in the vineyard, and giving all diligence to make your calling and election sure.

SECTION L.

Chap. xx. ver. 17-29.

CHRIST FORETELS HIS PASSION.

17. And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

May Jesus take us all apart; and tell us effectually of his death, the necessity, the benefit, and the power of it.

18. Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

Jesus knew the work which he had to accomplish there, and went with a resolved will to meet his sufferings.

19. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

O Jesus! sad was our condition which required such a method of deliverance; and great is thy love to perishing sinners. Shed it abroad in our hearts. We are naturally dead in trespasses and sins, dead to the love of God, and all spiritual feeling; but in the sense of thy love we can regain our lost powers, and lost happiness, love and obey, and be sweetly constrained by it to answer thy design in dying for us, by living unto thee.

20. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? she 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.

Supposing, according to the common mistake of the Jews, that it would be an earthly kingdom; and wanting to secure to them the highest places in it.

22. But Jesus answered and said, 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? They say unto him, We are able.

Jesus condemned their ambitious design; and at the same time gave them to understand, that, if they had known the nature of his kingdom, they would not have been so desirous of distinction in it, as it would only entitle them to a distinction in suffering. They say unto him, We are able." It is probable they did not well know what

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