SERMON IX. On the Parable of the Tares. MATTH. xiii. 36. His difciples came unto him, faying; Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. CLOUDS and darkness are round about the Almighty yet righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his throne (a). Of the counfels of Infinite Wisdom fome remain infcrutable to man. Hence faith is awakened, exercised, strengthened. From others of the divine difpenfations the veil is partially withdrawn. Hence arife augmented admiration, livelier gratitude, warmer love. If the ancient prophets fully understood not the import of their own predictions; if there were myfteries in the plan of re (a) Pfalm, xcvii. z. demption demption into which the angels earneft defired to obtain a more penetrating infight (6): fhall man complain, if, for his own efpecial benefit, knowledge is in fome inftances withheld? If, in others, existing obfcurities are diffipated; fhall he not eagerly welcome the illuminating beam, and gratefully govern his steps by its light? It was not feldom through the medium of parabolic reprefentation that our Lord communicated the most important truths. Whether doctrines were to be developed, or moral precepts to be enforced; the parable, fententious in its conftruction and interesting by its narrative, feized the memory, the judgement, and the heart. The parable before us has for its object to unfold fome mysterious parts of the proceedings of God with refpect to men, especially under the dispensation of the Gospel. The inftruction which it conveys is in every point momentous, and worthy of the doctrine of the Son of God. The kingdom of heaven, faid our Saviour, is likened unto a man, which fowed good feed in his field. But while men flept, his enemy VOL. II. (b) Pet. i. 10-12, N came came and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was Sprung up and brought forth fruit; then appeared the tares alfo. So the fervants of the boufeholder came, and faid unto him; Sir, didst thou not fow good feed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? He faid unto them, An enemy bath done this. The fervants faid, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he faid, Nay: left, while ye gather up the the wheat with them. gether unto the harvest; harvest I will fay to the reapers, Gather ye together firft the tares, and bind them in bunales to burn them; but gather the wheat into vy barn. tares, ye root up alfo and in the time of If, in confidering the meaning of this parable, you pay due attention to the guidance of Scripture, it will be impoffible to fall into error. For our Lord himself, in compliance with the request of his difciples, has delivered a diftinct and complete interpretation. Jefus anfwered: He that foweth the good feed is the Son of man. The field is the world. The good feed are the children of the kingdom. The tares are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that fowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered, and burned in the fire; fo fhail it be in the end of this world. The Son of man fhall fend forth his angels; and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: and shall caft them into a furnace of fire: there fhall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous Shine forth as the fun in the kingdom of their Father. In the parable, connected with this fure explanation, we meet with various leffons, which it highly behoves us to lay to heart. I. The Son of God defcended from heaven and took upon himself the nature of man, that he might fow, by himself and his Apoftles, the good feed of the Gospel throughout the world. But fcarcely had the crop fprung up, when it was found to be mixed with fuch a profufion of tares, of ufelefs and noxious weeds, as threatened to overwhelm it. The prevalence of evil in the Church of Chrift has proved a ftumbling-block to many. They fèe multitudes of Chriftians, even whole nations, fwallowed N 2 fwallowed up in the groffeft corruptions of doctrine; rendering worship to angels, to departed men, to images of wood and stone, to pictures, to reliques; and fatiffied that the pardon of fin may be bestowed upon them by men like themselves, or may be purchased by fenfelefs ceremonies and fuperftitious obfervances. Even in thole countries where Chriftianity is preached in its original purity, they behold various herefies and errors; much fecret unbelief; a very general lukewarmness as to religion; and a numerous hoft, even thoufands and tens of thoufands, among profeffed Chriftians refembling heathens in pride, worldly-mindednefs, and fenfuality. When they see these things, they are ready to exclaim; " If the Son of God has cul"tivated and planted this field: how is it "thus overfpread with tares?" In fome, aftonishment advances to infidelity. Not diftinguishing between Chriftianity and the corruptions blended with it, they turn with difguft from both and conclude that a religion which produces fuch fruit must be falfe. Now fo far is the predominance of eyil in the Chriftian church from rendering the truth of Chriftianity doubtful, that it bears teftimony to its confirmation: for it |