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The pernicious influence of riches over the minds of the children of men, being thus instanced, our blessed Saviour cautioned his disciples against fixing their minds on things of such dangerous tendency, by shewing how very difficult it was for a rich man to procure an habitation in the region of eternal happiness: Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved? But JESUS beheld them, and said unto them,' with men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

By this it appears, that if a man be not assisted by the grace of God, it will be impossible for him to obtain the happy rewards of the kingdom of heaven; but, by the assistance of grace, which the Almighty never refuses to those who seek it with their whole heart, it is very possible.

But the disciples of our blessed Lord were far from being satisfied with this answer, as they had doubtless often reflected with pleasure on the high posts they were to enjoy in their Master's kingdom. Peter scems particularly to save been disappointed; and therefore addressed his Master in the name of the rest, begging him to remember, that his apostles had actually done what. the young man had refused: they had abandoned their relations, their friends, their possessions, and their employments, on his account: and, therefore, desired to know what reward they were to expect, for these instances of their obedience. To which JESUS replied, that they should not fail of a reward, even in this life: for immediately after his resurrection, when he ascended to his Father, and entered on his mediatorial office, they should be advancedo the honour of judging the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, of ruling the church of

CHRIST, which they were to plant in different parts of the earth; Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Our Lord having given this answer to Peter, he next mentioned the rewards his other disciples should receive, both in this world, and in that which is to come: they, said he, who have forsaken all for my sake, shall be no loosers in the end; their benevolent Father, who intends to give them possessions in the heavenly Canaan, will not fail to support them, during their long and painful journey to that happy country, and raise them up friends who shall assist them with those necessaries they might have expected from their relations, had they not left them for my sake. Divine Providence will take care that they have every thing valuable that can be given them by their relations, or they could desire from large possessions: they shall, indeed, be fed with the bread of sorrow, but this shall produce joys, to which all the earthly pleasures bear no proportion; and, in the end, obtain everlasting life: they shall leave this vale of tears, with all its pains and sorrows, behind them, and fly to the bosom of their Almighty Father, the fountain of life and joy, where, for all the sufferings they have undergone in this world, they shall be infinitely rewarded,

According to this, many who are by their fellowmortals, considered as the last of mankind, because of their sufferings, self-denials, and mortifications, shall be really first, not only in point of future reward, but even with regard to peesent satisfaction: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

It seems these words were spoken to keep the disciples humble, as, in all probability, they at first understood the promise of their siting on twelve thrones in a natural sense; so they were ready to construe every

expression to a temporal kingdom, which they still expected their Master would erect upon earth. Our blessed Lord, therefore, to remove all thoughts they might entertain of this kind, told them, that though he had described the rewards they were to expect for the ready obedience they had shewn to his commands, and the pains they were to take in propagating the gospel amongst the children of men; yet these rewards were spiritual, and not confined to the Jews alone, but extended also to the Gentiles, who, in point of time, should excel the Jews, and universally embrace the gospel before that nation was converted.

Our great Redeemer illustrated this doctrine with the parable of the house-holder, who at different hours of the day, hired labourers to work in the vineyard: 'The kingdom of heaven, says our blessed Saviour, is like unto a man that is an house-holder, which went out early in the morning, to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place, and he said unto them, go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and finding others standing, saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle! They say unto him, because no man hath hired us. He said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So, when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying, these

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last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that is thine, and go thy way I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few i chosen.' Matt. xx. 1-16.

Our blessed Saviour delivered the parable of the house-holder in such a manner, as, from the applica tion he has made of it, it would not be difficult to interpret it. The dispensations of religion, which God gave to mankind in different parts of the world, are represented by the vineyard: the Jews, who were early members of the true church, and obliged to obey the law of Moses, are the labourers which the house-holder hired early in the morning; the Gentiles, who were converted at several times, by the various interpositions of Providence, to the knowledge and worship of the true God, are the labourers hired at the third, sixth, and ninth hour: and the invitation given at the eleventh hour, implies the calling of the Gentiles in every country, to live piously and virtuously. The law of Moses was a heavy yoke; and therefore, the obedience to its precepts was very elegantly represented, by bearing the heat and burden of the whole day but the proselyted Gentiles paid obedience only to some particular precepts of the law, bore but parts of its weight, and were, therefore, represented by those who were hired, at the third, sixth, and ninth hours; while those Heathens, who regulated their conduct by the law of nature only, and esteemed the works of justice, piety, temperance and charity, as their whole duty, are beautifully represented as labouring in the cool of the evening, only one hour.

The time being come when each labourer was to receive his wages, they were all placed on an equal

footing; these rewards being the privileges and advantages of the gospel. The Jews who had borne the griev ous yoke of the Mosaic ceremonies, murmured when they found the Gentiles were admitted to its privileges, without being subject to their ceremonial worship: but we must not urge the circumstance of the reward, so far as to fancy that either Jews or Gentiles merited the blessings of the gospel, by their having laboured faithfully in the vineyard, or having behaved well under their several dispensations. The gospel, with its blessings, was bestowed entirely by the free grace of God, and without any thing in men to merit it; besides, it was offered promiscuously to all, whether good or bad, and was embraced by persons of all characters. The conclusion of the parable deserves our utmost attention; we should often meditate upon it, and take care to make our calling and election sure.

Our Lord having finished these discourses, continued his journey towards Jerusalem, where the chief priests and elders, soon after the resurrection of Lazarus, issued a proclamation promising a reward to any one who should apprehend him. In all probability, this was the reason why the disciples were astonished at the alacrity of our Lord during this journey. While they themselves followed him trembling, Jesus, therefore thought proper to repeat the prophecies concerning his sufferings, in order to shew his disciples that they were entirely voluntary; adding that though the Jews should put him to death, yet instead of weakening, it should increase their faith, especially as he would rise again the third day from the dead: Behold we go up to Jerusalem; and all things that are written by the prophets, concerning the Son of man, shall be accomplished: for he shall be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. Luke xviii. 31, 32, 33.

It must have given the greatest encouragement to

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