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There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and s hedged it round about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. Je. xix. 3. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel, for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. Ho. iv. 1.

There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard.] Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her 15 boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the n" field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burnt with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Ps. Ixxx. 8-16. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers, every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver; my vineyard which is mine is before me. Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred. Can. viii. 11, 12. Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and made a wine-press therein. And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard, what could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it ?

Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Is. v. 1-4. I had planted thee a noble vine (saith the Lord to Jerusalem), wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? Je. ii. 21. And he (Jesus) began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husband

men, and went into a far country. Mar. xii. 1. A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. Lu. xx. 9. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John xv. 1.

Husbandmen.] The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Mat. xxiii. 2. I took the chief of your tribes (said Moses), wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great. Ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's. And the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. De. i. 15, 16, 17. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout the tribes; and they shall judge the people with just judgment. De. xvi. 18. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, thou shalt come unto the priests, the Levites, and unto the judges, that shall be in those days, and enquire. And they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment, and thou shalt do according to the sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall choose, shall shew thee. And thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee, according to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do, thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand nor to the left. De. xvii. 9, 10, 11. And of Levi he (Moses) said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy. Holy One whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children; for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law. They shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt-sacrifice upon thine altar. De. xxxiii. 8, 9, 10. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, said the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to

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afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Mal. ii. 4-9. Went into a far country.] The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability, and straightway took his journey. Mat. xxv. 14, 15. The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Mar. xiii. 34. A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return, and he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Lu. xix. 12, 13.

34 He sent his servants.] The Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments, and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks,like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God. 2 Ki. xvii. 13, 14. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets: and the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy. 2 Ch. xxxvi. 15, 16. Many times didst thou (God) deliver" them" ("the Israelites"), according to thy mercies; and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law, yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man do he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by the spirit, in thy prophets; yet would they not give ear. Therefore gavest

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thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. Ne. ix. 28, 29, 30. From the thi teenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, the word of the Land hath come unto me (Jeremiah), and I hav spoken unto you, rising early, and speaking but ye have not hearkened. And the Lost hath sent unto you all his servants the pro phets, rising early, and sending them; but yo have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear la hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the ev your doing, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you, and to your thers, for ever and ever. And go not aft other gods to serve them, and to wesap them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands, and I will do you hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened b saith the Lord, that ye might provoke anger with the works of your own hands, your own hurt. Je. xxv. 3-7. I have also unto you all my servants the prophes rising up early, and sending them, saya Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwi in the land which I have given to you, and your fathers; but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. Je. xxx. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I wil unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Be not as your fathers, unto whom the for prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your e ways, and from your evil doings; but they d not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lar Your fathers, where are they? And the pr phets, do they live for ever? But my wor and my statutes, which I commanded servants the prophets, did they not take a of your fathers? And they returned and sa Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do t us, according to our ways, and according our doings, so hath he dealt with us. Ze 3-6. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, ing, Execute true judgment, and shew my and compassion, every man to his brothe and oppress not the widow, nor the father the stranger, nor the poor; and let noe you imagine evil against his brother in y heart. But they refused to hearken, pulled away the shoulder, and stopped the ears, that they should not hear; yea, th made their hearts as an adamant-store, they should hear the law, and the words whe the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spiri: by the former prophets; therefore came a grus wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore.

come to pass, that as he cried, and tr would not hear, so they cried, and I w

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the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the 35 husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the 36 first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent 37 unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But 38 when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his

not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. Zec. vii. 9-13. A certain man planted a vineyard, &c., and at the season he sent to the husband1. men a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard, and :they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Mar. xii. 2-5. And at the season, he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of his vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant, and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again, he sent a third, and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Lu. xx. 10, 11, 12.

That they might receive the fruits, &c.] See verse 33.

35 Took his servants, and beat one, &c.] See chap. v. 12. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, went near and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee? 1 Ki. xxii. 24. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them" ("the priests and people of the Jews") by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending, because he had compassion on his people. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets. 2 Ch. xxxvi. 15, 16. In vain have I smitten your children (0 Judah), they received no correction, your own sword hath devoured your prophets like Ba destroying lion. Je. ii. 30. From the thirteenth year of Josiah, even unto this day, the word of the Lord came unto me (said Jeremiah), and I have spoken unto you, rising plearly and speaking, but ye have not hearkened. And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. Je. xxv. 3, 4. I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. Lu. xiii. 33. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted (said Stephen)? and they have slain them which have shewed before of the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. Ac. vii. 52. Others (of the saints)

had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheep-skins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. He. xi. 36, 37. And when "he" ("the Lamb") had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. Re. vi. 9.

37 Last of all he sent unto them his son.] See chap. iii. 17. Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. Mar. xii. 6. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son, it may be they will reverence him when they see him. Lu. xx. 13. No man hath seen God at any time, the onlybegotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. I saw and bare record (said John the Baptist), that this is the Son of God. John i. 18. 34. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 16. 35, 36. God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last times spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. He. i. 1, 2.

They will reverence my Son.] What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Is. v. 4. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from the evil of his way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. Je. xxxvi. 3. I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them; but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Zep. iii. 7.

38 This is the heir.] See chap. ii. 13–16. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the Scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas; and consulted that they

39 inheritance.

And they caught him, and cast him out of the

might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. Mat. xxvi. 3, 4. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Mat. xxvii. 1, 2. And when "they" ("Joseph's brethren") saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit; and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams. Ge. xxxvii. 18. 20. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son: this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Ps. ii. 2-8. Those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. Mar. xii. 7, 8. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. Lu. xx. 14. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him. And the Romans shall come, and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all; nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this he spake, not of himself, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. John xi. 47-53. Of a truth (said Peter), against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Ac. iv. 27, 28. Now when the high

priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these things (that the apostles whom they had imprisoned, were not in the prison), they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison, are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Ac. v. 24-28.

39 Caught him.] Forthwith "he" ("Judas Iscariot") came to Jesus and said. Hail, Master! and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the Scribes and the elders were assembled. Mat. xxvi. 49, 50. 57. And they laid their hands on him, and took him; And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the Scribes. Mar. xiv. 46. 53. Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. Lu. xxii. 52, 53, 54. Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews, took Jesus and bound him. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. John xviii. 12. 24. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken (sand Peter to the Jews), and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Ac. ii. 23. Why did the heathen rage (said God by the mouth of his servant David), and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Irael, were gathered together. Ac. iv. 25, 26, 77.

Cast him out.] The bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burnt without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, there fore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. He. xiii. 11, 12, 13.

vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vine- 40 yard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say 41 unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will

And slew him.] Him (Jesus) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken (said Peter to the Jews), and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Ac. ii. 23. Ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a mur! derer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses. Ac. iii. 14, 15. Be it known unto you all (said Peter), and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man (the lame man) stand here before you whole. Ac. iv. 10. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Ac. v. 30. Which of the prophets (said Stephen) have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers, and murderers. Ac. vii. 52. Ye have condemned and killed the Just; and he doth not resist you. Ja. v. 6.

40 What will he do unto those husbandmen?] What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. Mar. xii. 9. What therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. Lu. xx. 15, 16. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? He. x. 29.

41 He will miserably destroy.] See chap. iii. 12. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them; but when the king heard thereof, he was wroth; and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burnt up their city. Mat. xxii. 6, 7. That upon you (Scribes and Pharisees) may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew (said Jesus) between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee! How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, VOL. II.

your house is left unto you desolate. Mat. xxiii. 35-38. For then (at the coming of Christ to judgment) shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be; and except those days shall be shortened there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Mat. xxiv. 21, 22. If ye will not hearken unto me (saith God), and will not do all these commandments, I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. Le. xxvi. 14. 16, 17. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God; then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, also every sickness, and every plague, and ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God. And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee thou shalt see it no more again; and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen, and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. De. xxviii. 58-62. 68. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron: thou shalt dash them in pieces, like a potter's vessel. Ps. ii. 4, 5. 9. Now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Is. v. 5—7. After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city, and Dd

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