* went out betimes to the market-place, where day-labourers kept their stand in expectation of employment, to hire labourers to work in his vineyard, and having agreed with a certain number of them for a penny a day, he set them to work. Wanting still more help, he went out about the third hour, † and in the usual place he found several standing there to be hired, with whom hẹ also agreed in proportion to the time. Again about the sixth and ninth hour + he went out, and hired more and about the eleventh hour he did the same. At night he bid his steward call the labourers, and pay them; and beginning with them that were last hired, he paid them the whole day's wages: but when they came who were first hired, and had laboured from the morning, they expected to receive more than those who came late into the vineyard; but they were disappointed, for they received no more than what they were hired for. Upon which they murmur, saying, Thou hast given to them as much wages as to us who have laboured all the day long. The owner of the vineyard tells them he paid them according to their agreement; and as for those who came later to work, it was an act of generosity in himself to reward them as he pleased, it being their misfortune that they were not sooner employed, and that being master of his own substance he might dispense it as he thought fit, and give as much to them that came at the eleventh hour as to those that came first, and who laboured as honestly for the time as they did. Thus the last shall be first, and first last. || Whilst the blessed Jesus was in Galilee, he receives a message from the two female disciples and sisters, Martha and Mary, intreating him to hasten into Bethany, to re * Penny. Our seven-pence half-penny. + Third hour. About our nine of the clock in the morning. Sixth and ninth hour. Twelve of the clock at noon, and three in the afternoon. Last. This parable relates literally to the case of the Jews, who murmured that the same church privileges should be extended to the Gentiles as to themselves. It displays also the sovereignty of God in the bestowment of all his favours. lieve their sick brother Lazarus, who was in imminent danger. But he deferred* his going till Lazarus was dead; purposing to make an uncommon display of his divine. power and goodness in a glorious miracle, which should produce much honour to God. Therefore, after two days' delay, he called his disciples to accompany him into Judea. When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus, who had been dead four days, was buried, and in a state of putrefaction. Martha and Mary hearing of their Lord's approach, go out to meet him; and pouring out a flood of pious tears for their dear brother, throw themselves at his feet, wishing he had arrived sooner, for then they were assured their brother would not have died. At the sight of these mourning sisters, Jesus suffered the passions of pity and humanity, which after some perturbation of mind broke. into tears. After this melancholy salutation, Jesus having, by his words of comfort, strengthened the faith of the two sisters, he desired to be conducted to the place where Lazarus was buried, and commanding the stone to be removed from the grave, making an address of adoration and thanksgiving to his Father for his continual readiness to hear him, he says, with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" and he that was dead, came forth from his bed of darkness, with his grave-clothes on, who, being loosed by some of the numerous spectators, at the command of Jesus, went to his habitation at Bethany. The performance of this miracle affected the multitude very differently; some were convinced, and believed on him; others were filled with wonder, yet maliciously went and informed the Pharisees; who, upon that advice, summoned their great council, whose solemn cognizance was for the greater causes of prophets, kings, and of the holy law: where one breaking silence, says, "It is not a time for us to sit still, and permit this man to proceed in the performance of these miracles without interruption: for if we suffer him, all men will believe on him, and the Ro Deferred. See John xi. 4, 5, 6, &c! mans* will destroy both our temple and nation, our religion and government, and wholly enslave us." At this great assembly it was that Caiaphas the High-priest prophesied that one should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And from this time they entered into a combination, resolving to put him to death. But Jesus knowing they had passed a decretory sentence against him, did not perform any public miracles among the people of Judea, but retired to the city of Ephraim, in the tribe of Judah, near the desart, where he continued a few days till the time of the passover. Now when the feast of the passover was nigh at hand, as Jesus with his disciples was going to Jerusalem, he informed them what the event of his journey would be, that the Jews should deliver him to the Gentiles; that they should scourge him, and mock him, and crucify him, and the third day he should rise again. Upon this mention of his resurrection, which they vainly presumed would be the time of his taking all his greatness upon him, the mother of James and John came to Jesus, and prostrating herself at his feet, desired that her sons might have the first places in his kingdom: for all the discourses of his passion, or intimations of the spiritual nature of his kingdom had not yet corrected their false apprehensions of it, as a state of temporal grandeur. But Jesus, who knew the weakness of their understandings on this head, gave Romans. The Jewish council, seeing the miracles which Jesus did, this especially of raising Lazarus, did very much fear that professing himself to be the Me3siah, he would soon attempt to make himself king, and by the reputation which he had gained among the people, be quickly assisted in it, if he were not timely hindered. If this were done, the consequence would be that the Romans, to whom they were already subject, looking upon this as a rebellion, would come with an army, and utterly destroy them. + Prophesied. See John xi. 50, 51. Caiaphas spake in words that were a direct prophecy of what God had now designed should come to pass: not that he meant it in that sense, or thought at all of prophesying: but being in a place of authority among the Jews at that time, he was a fit person for God to make use of as his minister to foretel the purpose of God, that Christ should die for the Jews. Mother. See Matt. xx. 20, &c. them an answer adapted to their present conceptions, and future condition, telling them, "That if they desired the first post of honour in his kingdom, and to be nearest his person, they must take the greatest share of the bitter cup of his sufferings, and then sit in his kingdom, if his heavenly Father had prepared it for them: but as to any privilege of honour or dignity above others, they to whom his Father had designed it should certainly enjoy it." This excited the displeasure of the other apostles, who were offended with the ambition of the two brothers. But Jesus, the true peace-maker, to prevent any misunderstanding between them, dissuades them from all thoughts of supremacy, by telling them, "That though the rulers or kings of the nations were served and benefited by their subjects, and received secular advantages by their pre-eminences, and that the emperors in like manner were over them, yet preference among them was to be attended with all the offices of servile humility, and that they must not expect to live after the manner of the heathen princes: for he among them that affected to be supreme, must be the servant of all the rest; and that Christ's kingdom here is not to be administered in a way from which they might derive splendor or profit, but in a way of charity; serving, relieving, providing, and dying, for his people, instead of requiring any such offices from them."* The blessed Jesus proceeding from hence to Jericho, with the usual attendance of the multitude, a fresh object of misery presents itself, on which he might exercise his *Them. On a similar occasion, our Lord reproved the ambition of the disciples, by taking a little child; and placing him in the midst of them, he said, I declare it to you as a most solemn and important truth, "That except ye be converted and turned from these ambitious and carnal views, and become like little children in lowliness and meekness, you will be so far from having any distinguished rank among my subjects, that ye shall by no means so much as enter at all into my kingdom, or enjoy any of its blessings." It is but justice to the Apostles to observe, that after the ascension of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit, they were entirely cured of the disease of ambition, and gladly took up their cross, following their humble leader.. compassion and power. Poor Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, who had long sat on the road, an humble supplicant to all charitable passengers for relief, hearing the noise of the vast crowd that passed by, asked the meaning of that numerous concourse; and being informed that Jesus of Nazareth was among them, with strong and impatient faith he cried, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy upon me?" The standers-by bid him forbear his clamorous noise, supposing he begged an alms: but the gift he desired was of greater moment, and therefore he repeats his importunity, and cries, "O Son of David have mercy upon me?" Upon this Jesus stopped, and ordering the blind man to be brought to him, demands of him the reason of his importunate cries; who in a humble manner replied, "Lord, restore my long-lost sight?" He had no sooner spoken, than the compassionate Jesus answered his request; for straightway his eyes receive the welcome light, and he with joy makes one of the admiring crowd that followed their Saviour. As the holy Jesus passed through Jericho,† a certain man named Zaccheus, a person of wealth and figure among the publicans, being desirous of seeing Jesus, could not gratify his curosity in the crowd because he was low of stature, and therefore he climbs up a tree, from whence he might take a full view and survey of his sacred person. Jesus, observing the eager zeal of this curious publican, calls to him to descend, and invites himself to his house. The overjoyed Zaccheus, proud of this honour, hastens to receive his heavenly guest with the highest expressions of love and respect; and such was the power of divine grace upon his heart, that he instantly became a remarkable penitent, and thus expresses the feelings of his mind "Lord, the half of my estate I give to the poor; and whomsoever I have defrauded, or as a publican, exacted from, more than was due, I am ready to make, according to the law, a four-fold restitution." This confession and repentance was the greatest entertainment any mortal : |