194 Reflections on the parable of the unfaithful husbandmen SECT. eminence, it shall even grind him to powder b clii. like a brittle potsherd crushed by the weight of (Luke some huge stone falling upon it from on high: XX. 18. (compare Dan. ii. 44.) So whoever shall oppose me after my exaltation to glory, and the pouring out of my Sprit for the full revelation of my gospel and proof of my mission, he will bring upon himself aggravated guilt, and dreadful unavoidable destruction. 19 [when] the chief priests and the scribes [and Pharisees had heard his same hour sought to 45. 19-And And when the chief priests and the scribes and Pharisees had heard his parables which he had now delivered, they were so provoked at what he had said, that even in that very hour they sought parables, they] the to lay their hands on him, that they might pro- lay hands on him; for secute him even to death; for they plainly per- they perceived that he ceived that he had spoken this parable of the wick- had spoken this paed husbandmen that should be destroyed against [MAT. XXII. rable against them. them, and had in effect set them all at defiance MARK XII. 12.-] by the application of so signal a prophecy to himMat. self. But they feared the people who were MAT. XXI. 46. XXI. 46. then present in the temple, because they esteemed Butthey feared the multitude, because him as a Prophet sent from God, and would not they took him for a have borne that immediate assault upon him Prophet: [and they which the rage of these rulers would otherwise their way.] [MARK, have engaged them to make. And therefore, XII-12.] LUKE XX. not daring for the present to attempt to seize him -19.] with an open violence, they left him, and went away to take counsel in private against him, and to lay a plot for his life, which they might execute with less hazard to themselves. left him, and went IMPROVEMENT. WHEN We read this parable, and consider it as levelled at the Jews, we applaud the righteous judgment of God in revenging so severely upon them the quarrel of his covenant, and the blood of his Son; but let us take heed to ourselves, lest we also fall after the same example of unbelief. (Heb. iv. 11.) On whomsoever it shall fall, &c.] Dr. Whitby supposes that here is an allusion to the two different ways of stoning among the Jews; the former, by throwing a person down upon a great stone; and the other, by letting a stone fall upon him. But as I cannot see that the latter was at all more dreadful than the former, since in such a case a quick dispatch might seem most desirable, it seems to me that the force and beauty of this pathetic passage would be in a great measure lost by such an interpretation. God They perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.] One would think they could be at no loss for the interpretation of it, considering how nearly it resembles that in Isa. v. 1-7, with which they were, no doubt, well acquainted. Only it is to be observed that there Israel is the vineyard, here the true religion is represented under that figure; accordingly there it is threatened that the vineyard should be destroyed, but here that it should be let out to other husbandmen; each event suiting its connection. Reflections on the parable of the unfaithful husbandmen. 195 clii. God has given to every man some part of his vineyard to culti- SECT. vate and improve, or some advantages to know and serve him. And as for us who enjoy the Christian dispensation, we have par- Mat. ticular reason to say, the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places. xxi. 33. (Psal. xvi. 6.) What could he have done more for this part of his vineyard? How ungrateful therefore shall we be, and how miserable too, if we with-hold the fruits he so reasonably expects; if 34, 36 we slight the messengers by whom he so frequently and so pathetically demands them; yea, if by wilful impenitence and unbelief we in effect renew the slaughter of his beloved Son, after that 37, 39 amazing favour he has done us, in charging him with an embassy of peace to us, whose aggravated crimes had long since deserved that he should have sent amongst us the messengers of his vengeance. 41 Oh that we may never be condemned out of our own mouths in the censures we pass on the guilty Jews! We cannot surely think of the awful threatening of our Lord 43 without some secret terror for ourselves, when we consider how shamefully we of this nation have abused our privileges. The kingdom of God, said he, shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. God had been just had he long since executed such a judgment upon us: may he be merciful to us all in suspending and averting it! May his compassion particularly extend to those amongst us who reject Christianity; for the passage before us has a dreadful aspect upon such! Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; whether they 42 will submit, or whether they will oppose; Christ is made the Head of the corner, and God will for ever establish him as such. Wo to them who, instead of joining with him, and fixing the stress of their souls upon him, deliberately set themselves to oppose his cause and interest! On such undoubtedly will he fall like a mighty 44 rock of adamant, and miserably crush them in pieces, and grind them to powder. Xxx. 19. Thus did our Lord warn his enemies most wisely and most graciously; but they despised the admonition, and hated him for what was so kindly intended. They sought to lay hands on him Luke because he had spoken this parable against them. High provocation indeed, to set their danger faithfully before them, that if by any means it were possible they might be awakened to escape it! But, alas, what can save those whose spiritual distempers are exasperated by the most proper remedies prescribed for their cure. VOL. VII. Bb SECT. 172 cxlviii. John The Jews are offended at what he says of the Son of man. SECT. plainly professest thyself to be the Messiah, say that the Son of man must be lifted up from the earth, and die a violent death? Who is this Son Xil. 34. of man? Is he, as such language as this might seem to intimate, a different person from the Messiah, whom we have been taught to expect under the title of the Son of man? This was said by some of the multitude who were illaffected towards him, and desired to find something to object against him. 35 oppor 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light darkness come upon eth in darkness know eth. Then Jesus said to them, Do not cavil at what I now say; but remember how short this tunity is which, through the Divine goodness, with you: walk while you now enjoy yet a little while is the light with ye have the light, lest you, which you may derive from me, or my servants who shall come to you in my name; walk you: for he that walktherefore while you have the light; comply with eth not whither he gothe gracious purposes of God in making these discoveries to you, and regulate your temper and conduct by them; that darkness may not overtake you, that you may not be deprived of the gospel, and left in a night of ignorance and misery: for you know it is a most uncomfortable thing for a traveller to be benighted in his way, as he that walks in darkness wanders from place to place, and knows not whither he goes, or into what dangers he may fall the very next step he takes; and much more dreadful will it be for you to be deserted of God, and left to the darkness and folly of your own hearts. (Com light, that ye may 36 pare John xi. 9, 10. sect. cxxxix.) Let me 36 While ye have therefore once more seriously and kindly exhort the light,believe in the you, that while you have the light thus clearly be the children of shining around you, you believe in the light, and light.honestly follow it, that you may be the children of light, who, being now truly wise and good,shall be th heirs of holiness, glory, and joy everlasting. These things Jesus spake when the Greeks ap- These things plied themselves to him; and as the unbelieving spake Jesus, [and he Jews were greatly irritated by the actions and parted, [MARK, and left them,] and dediscourses of the day, and would not be awaken- now the even tide was ed to conviction, he left them, and departed Who is this Son of man? A writer of great note interprets this as if they had said, Who is this that so absurdly, and inconsistently with the prophets, speaks of himself as the Son of man, while he talks of being lifted up, and dying?" (See Dr. Sykes of Christianity, p. 110.) But the sense given in the paraphrase appears to me more natural, and I am pleased to find it in Grotius, This was a real and impor thence come, tant difficulty; but it was fit some obscu rity should for the present be left upon it, lest the plainness of the prediction should have prevented its accomplishment. Our Lord therefore gave the discourse a useful turn, and a few days more proclaimed the mystery which he had before revealed to his apostles in private when he set out on his last journey to Jerusalem. (See Mat. xx. 18, 19. sect. cxlii.) Reflections on the happy fruits of the death of Christ. 173 SECT. cxlviii. John come, he went] [out thence to a retired place: and when now it was of the city unto Beth- late in the evening, he privately went out of the any] [MARK, with the twelve] [and he city to Bethany, with none to attend him but lodged there,] and did the twelve apostles; and, knowing that his ene- XII.56. mies were watching to destroy him, and might 17. MARK XI.-11.] have attempted to seize him by night if he had tarried at Jerusalem, he lodged there at Bethany, and concealed himself from them, to avoid the assaults of their deliberate malice till his hour hide himself from them. [MAT. XXI. was come. IMPROVEMENT. WHO can wonder at the desire these Greeks expressed to see so Ver. celebrated a Person as Jesus was! We hope there was something 20, 21 more than mere curiosity in it, and that at length they saw him with believing eyes, and, according to his prediction, glorified 23 him by a cordial acceptance of his gospel.-His disciples, we see 22 were ready to introduce them: and surely every faithful minister of Christ will undertake the task with pleasure when he sees souls awakened by Divine grace, and inquiring after Jesus with affec tionate concern. Blessed be God, it has already, in many instances, been seen that by the death of Christ an immortal seed was sown, which has mul- 24 tiplied in all ages, and is still multiplying: Oh that it might have a greater increase! One would think that words so gracious as these should promote that increase, and operate upon every heart 25 to produce a love to him sufficient to conquer every danger and opposition which may be met with in his cause: behold the promise which he has left upon record; " If any man, be he ever so 26 mean and unworthy, will but faithfully serve and follow me, whatever his former wanderings and rebellions may have been, where I am, there shall also my servant be." Happy state indeed! not only, like these Greeks, to have a transient sight of Christ, but to be for ever with him! How admirable is the love and stedfastness of our Redeemer, who procured so great a happiness for us at so dear an expence ! and even when his innocent soul was troubled in the view of his 27 sufferings, instead of declining them, met them with joy! How. should it animate us to renew that general comprehensive petition, than which none can be more suitable to us with regard to all the divine dispensations; Father, glorify thine own name! Glorify thy- 28 self, O Lord! and to that great end dispose of us as thou pleasest; for we should abhor ourselves if we had any interest separate from thine! We may be assured, as certainly as by a voice from heaven, that Y 2 this 174 cxlviii. The Jews are hardened and will not believe. SECT. this great end shall be answered; and in this we should rejoice. Behold, the prince of this world is cast out! Behold, Satan, is van31, 32 quished by Christ! and Jesus is lifted up on the cross for a standard to all the nations. Behold the attractive magnet by which all men are to be drawn, by which all his chosen people shall be brought to him, and so raised up to heaven itself! Let us look unto him from the ends of the earth, and labour with our cold hearts to awaken them to that lively and ardent affection which we owe to him who was crucified for us. 35, 36 SECT. For ever adored be Divine grace for this gospel light which discovers to us so excellent an object! May we use it to saving purposes, and so walk in it, as that we may appear to be the children of light! Let us think of that last distribution of mankind, when the children and heirs of light and darkness are once for all to be separated. Let us think of the gloom of eternal night, which will shortly overtake those by whom the gospel is now despised; and remember how much it will be aggravated by the light we have so long seen. Do thou, O God, at whose word light arose out of darkness, send forth by thine influences on our hearts thy light and thy truth, that they may lead and bring us to thine holy hill, (Psal. xliii. 3.) and that we may have the satisfaction of knowing whither we go, even when we walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death. (Psal. xxiii. 4.) SECT. CXLIX. John's reflection on the infidelity of the Jews. As Christ was returning the next morning to Jerusalem, he curses the barren fig-tree. John XII. 37-43. Mat. XXI. 18, 19. Mark XI. 12—14. JOHN XII. 37. JOHN XII. 37. done so many mi NOW such was the perverseness of the Jews BUT though he had cxlix. and such the prejudice they had conceived racles before them, yet John against our Lord, that though he had sufficiently they believed not on XII. 37. declared himself to be the true Messiah, and him: though he had done so many undeniable and glo- 38 him as the Messiah. So that the saying of 38 That the saving fied might |