noured with the first place in the kingdom of God. Seated by the throne of the Judge; nay, sitting in judgment with him, and condemning, by the example of their own faith, those who refused to repent and believe. For many shall change places; many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

One among many lessons to be learnt from the passage before us is, to be certain that we know the purpose of our own hearts. This young man seemed to desire eternal life. But he did not desire it so far as to make a sacrifice for it. He valued his earthly possessions more. Many, in every age, are under the same delusion. They imagine that they have a sincere intention to please God, and lead a Christian life, and seek everlasting hap piness. They will "do many things:" things that do not interfere with their old habits, or differ from their neighbour's practice, or injure their worldly interest, or cost them any painful sacrifice. But they lack one thing. They will not so surrender to their Saviour their entire heart, as to do every thing, resign every thing, renounce every thing, rather than be without a decisive and certain proof of lively faith.

Let all consider with themselves. They value their hopes of heaven. They would not forfeit them for worlds. They desire to have eternal life. So this young man desired. But when the trial

Such is probably the meaning of what is said in v. 28, that the apostles shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

came, it appeared that he desired still more to preserve his earthly possessions.

May God teach us all to know our own hearts! A sincere desire of eternal life is not a mere wish to inherit it, but a determination to seek it at all hazards. A man might desire a livelihood, a fortune; but if he took no pains to procure or earn it, evidently he would like something else better, namely, his own ease. Now, eternal life is not to be attained, unless it is sought in the first place. It was not attained by him, who preferred his worldly possessions. It cannot be attained by any who refuse to part with every evil habit and sinful indulgence. Riches were the touchstone applied to this man's faith, and showed it to be defective. Any corrupt or even doubtful practice, any thing which in the least offends against conscience or the spirit of the Bible, will equally show our profession to be insincere. It withholds our heart from Christ, as his was withheld. It proves us unworthy of eternal life, as he was proved unworthy. We can only attain that, on the terms of him who offers it; which are, that we "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," and make no attempt to "serve God and Mammon.”

LECTURE XLIX.

PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.

MATT. XX. 1-16.

1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a-day, he sent them into his vineyard.1

The way of God's dealings with man under the gospel dispensation, is here compared to the conduct of a householder who employs labourers in his vineyard. The householder has a vineyard to be cultivated; he hires labourers; he assigns them a reward. God too has a work for his reasonable creatures; that they should live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world, in expectation of his glorious kingdom hereafter. Early in the morn ing, from their very infancy, are Christians sum. moned to this service: summoned to renounce the works of the devil, and to keep God's holy will and commandments, and to walk in them all their life. So is it engaged in behalf of every child in bap tism; and happy, happy would it be, if all, as they to age, acknowledged the obligations br which they are bound, and kept that service which

For the customary price of a day's labour in that country. 2 See Titus ii. 11-14.

is "perfect freedom." Great indeed is the honour of the service, and great "the recompense of the reward." Why has our heavenly King so often reason to expostulate, "If I be a Father, where is mine honour? And if I be a Master, where is my fear?"3

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

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

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

Reckoning the morning, as the Jewish custom was, from the sixth hour of our day, the third hour answers to the period of youth; the sixth to that of manhood; the ninth to that of advancing age. A quarter, or a half, or even three-fourths of the longest life are now past. Is it to be still said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved?" Such is the goodness of God, that he does not abandon the rebellious people who have long preferred their own will to his. He does not let them alone, to reap the fruits which they have sown. The Gospel is continually sounding in their ears the offer of reconciliation and acceptance; is inviting them to seek the pardon of sin through the one sacrifice for sin, and so to go into the vineyard and work there their appointed time. Such were those whom John the Baptist brought to repentance; such were those who first listened to the message of the apostles; and such

3 Mal. i. 6.

are many in every age, who, having in their youth been deaf to the call of duty, hearken to it in their riper years. What reason have they to bless God, who has subdued their sinful and reluctant hearts, and made them willing to serve him! How thankfully does St. Paul speak of this, and describe his own case as an encouragement to others. "For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."

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?

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.

Observe what is implied in the question, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Yet why should they not, if there was no certain and essential concern, in which it was their duty to be engaged? And what that concern is, we need not go far to inquire. It is the working out our salvation; it is the securing our eternal state; it is the preparing ourselves for eternity, by living to him who died for us; died for us, that he might bring us to God, and make us a peculiar people, zealous in the Lord's service, and doing all to his glory. Whosoever is not thus employed, is, in the irreversible judgment of his Maker, idle. Busy enough he may be, and probably is: for the yoke of Satan

1 Tim. i. 16.