not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The man who knew not his lord's will, shall be beaten with few stripes, if his defect of knowledge was not his own fault but not the man who might have known, and would not.

SECTION XLIV.

Chap. xii ver. 49-59.

THE DUTY OF BEING ADMONISHED.

49. I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

The fire of purification by the Holy Ghost: or of division, according to what follows. "And what will I, if it be already kindled?" For this end Christ came, and for what had he farther to wish?

50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

This is the baptism of Christ's death. It was a bloody one; and yet, for the joy of our salvation, he was in pain till the time came. Will nothing melt our stubborn

hearts ?

51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

This sounds strange. Is not Christ the prince of peace? Does he not pronounce the peace-makers blessed? And does he not charge us to love our enemies? Yes; and none

can be his disciples, who are not at peace with all the world. Nevertheless, his coming would cause great divisions in the earth. He came to separate the good from the bad, and make the good bear their testimony against the bad. And the sure effect of this, on the part of the bad, he knew would be quarrels and heart-burnings, hatred and persecution.

52. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

A man's nearest friends will sooner forgive him anything, than his being in earnest in religion, and entering into the true spirit of the gospel.

53. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Our Lord's assurance of the enmity which wicked men will cherish against the good, is found true. St. Paul says, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Let us count the cost, and bear the reproach of Christ. Edit.

54. And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

They had, like many now, understanding and natural discernment enough, in anything but what it most concerns them to know.

57. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Why do ye not judge the good of peace; and more especially of being at peace with God?

58. When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

If any man has a just quarrel against thee, and much more God, attend to the consequences, and make all up without delay. Are you sure God has no quarrel against you?

59. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

If hell is the prison, the sinner will never pay the last mite. No payment can be made there.

SECTION XLV.

Chap. xiii. ver. 1–9.

PARABLE OF THE FIG-TREE.

1. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?

They did so think of them, and concluded that Christ would think so too. But he, who knew what was in man, instead of falling into this snare, turned short upon them with a startling admonition, and sent them to their own hearts.

3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Christ does not deny that those who perished were sinners; but only, not therefore, greater sinners than others;

or perhaps, those who told him. Hence he says to them, and in effect to us, "But except ye repent," that is, see and feel your guilt in sin, and dread to continue in the practice of sin. Who are the persons who do not repent, we ask, almost, one and all? We ourselves. This may seem hard to those who would be excused from repentance : but what follows is harder: "Ye shall all likewise perish:" -it may be, by some sore judgment in this world; as the Jews did; but if not, most certainly, for ever.

4. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ?

5. I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

This is the end of all impenitent sinners.—Edit.

6. He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Christ spake this parable to convince them and others, of God's patience, and of their doom, without repentance. O! come into the light of this parable, and know that God is at a word with us all. The husbandman sought fruit on the fig-tree; which may teach us, that man was as much made for holiness, in the full exercise of love to God and charity to men, as the fig-tree, or any other tree, to produce its proper fruit. "And found none." We have none for Christ, till we come, by repentance, to the possession of true faith, and a new nature by the Holy Spirit. A civil, smooth life, from any other root, is not that fruit.

7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none : cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

How many times three years is it with many of us? "And behold!" says he, wondering at the strangeness of the matter. And may not God say of us, "What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done in it?

"Cut it down." It is just in God to pronounce this sentence whenever he pleases. He defers it, however, in mercy. If it is abused, his patience will have an end. What is all the wisdom in the world to a feeling of these truths in the heart?"Why cumbereth it the ground ?" Every one who does not bring forth fruit unto God, is a burden to the earth.

8. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it;

9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

We may imagine Christ himself thus interceding for us. “Lord, let it alone, this year also." What, no more! Perhaps not so much as a year. God may have set us a time, and a short one too, though we think nothing of it. What has he not done to bring us into a fruit-bearing state? O that our souls may bear fruit! O that they would indeed, then it will be well!" And if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." Christ pleads earnestly for us, while there is time and hope. But if his labour is in vain, he has not a word more to say in our behalf. He will give us up to the justice of God, and be the executioner of it himself.

SECTION XLVI.

Chap. xiii. ver. 10—22.

HE HEALETH A DEFORMED WOMAN.

10. And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sab

bath.

11. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.