and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Re. vii. 17.

22 I have gained two other talents.] And the second (servant) came (to his lord), saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds; and he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. Lu. xix. 18, 19. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Ro. xii. 6, 7, 8. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power (I bear record), yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in "this grace" also ("liberality”). I not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath 2 Co. viii. 1, 2, 3. 7, 8, 12.

not.

23 Well done, good and faithful servant.] See verse 21. Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did east in all that she had, even all her living. Mar. xii. 41-44. She (who anointed Jesus' head) hath done what she could (said Jesus); she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mar. xiv. 8, 9.

24 Lord, I knew thee.] Not every one that

saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat. vii. 21. Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and da not the things which I say? Lu. vi. 46,

I knew thee that thou art an hard man.] These last (said the labourers in the parable who were first hired, to the householder,) have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Mat. xx. 12. Therefore they (the wicked) say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways: what is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him? Job xxi. 14, 15. Wherefore have we fasted, say “they” (the "hypocrites"), and thou (God) seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours! Is. lviii. 3. O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness! wherefore say my people, We are lords, we will come no more unto thee? Je. ii. 31. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us (said the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, to Jeremiah) in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and out princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drinkofferings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword, and by the famine. Je. xliv. 16, 17, 18. Yet "ye" (the "wicked") say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel, Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them, for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive: because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall

surely live, he shall not die. Yet, saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? Ez. xviii. 25-29. But "ye" ("Israel") have profaned "it" (the "name of the Lord") in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it! saith the Lord of hosts. And ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. Mal. i. 12, 13. Ye have said, It is vain to serve God! and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? and now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Mal. iii. 14, 15. Lo, these many years (said the elder brother of the prodigal son) do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment, and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that might make merry with my friends. Lu. xv. 29. And another (servant) came, saying, Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. Lu. xix. 20, 21, 22. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Ro. viii. 7. Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Ro. ix. 20.

25 Was afraid.] David was afraid of the Lord (at the death of Uzzah, for putting forth his hand to touch the Ark), and said, How shall the Ark of the Lord come to me? So David would not remove the Ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom, the Gittite. 2 Sa. vi. 9, 10. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. Pr. xxvi. 13. Of whom hast thou (Israel) been afraid, or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? Have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? Is. lvii. 11. Ye have

Ro.

not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. viii. 15. Wherefore I put thee in remem brance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Ti. i. 6, 7. The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone ; which is the second death. Re. xxi. 8.

26 Thou wicked and slothful servant.] O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? Mat. xviii. 32, 33. Thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty: thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; yea, thine own lips testify against thee. Job xv. 5, 6.

27 Oughtest therefore to have put my money, &c.] Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant; thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow; wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? Lw. xix. 22, 23. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Ro. iii. 19. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 15.

With usury.] Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother, usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury. Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury, but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it. De. xxiii. 19, 20.

28 Therefore the talent from him.] One

thing is needful, and Mary (the sister of Lazarus) hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Lu. x. 42. Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. Lu. xix. 24.

29 Unto every one that hath, &c.] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that he hath. Mat. xiii. 12. He that hath, to him shall be given; and he that hath not, from him shall be taken, even that which he hath. Mar. iv. 25. Take heed, therefore, how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. Lu. viii. 18. Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations: he that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Lu. xvi. 9-12. Lord, he hath ten pounds (said they to the nobleman in the parable). say unto you (said Jesus), That unto every one that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. Lu. xix. 25, 26. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he (the Father) taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John xv. 2.

Shall be taken away, &c.] He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and he will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Mat. xxi. 41. And he (the Lord) hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden, he hath destroyed his places of the assembly, the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised, in the indignation of his anger, the king and the priest. La. ii. 6. Therefore (on account of İsrael's idolatry) will I return and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax, given to cover her nakedness. Ho. ii. 9. One thing is needful (said Jesus to Martha), and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her. Lu. x. 42. And I will say to my soul (said the vainboasting rich man in the parable), Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take

thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. L. xii. 19, 20, 21. There was a certain rich man which had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give

an

account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship; I cannot dig, to beg I am ashamed. There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abra ham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remem ber that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Lu. xvi. 1, 2, 3. 20-25. If we let "him" ("Jesus") thus alone (said the chief priests and Pharisees) all men will be lieve on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. Joka xi. 48. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto "thee" (the "church of Ephesus") quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Re. ii. 5.

30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant, &c.] And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mat. iii. 10. Ye (Christ's disciples) are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men. Mat. v. 13. Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this

people cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? Then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the Lord, Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. Je. xv. 1, 2. Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree? or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel, the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burnt: is it meet for any work? Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work; how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? Ez. xv. 2-5. Salt is good, but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. Lu. xiv. 34, 35. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John xv. 6. And let our's also (the christian converts) learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Tit. iii. 14. The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. He. vi. 7, 8. I know thy works, that thou (the church of the Laodiceans) art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot: so then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Re. iii. 13, 16.

Outer darkness.] See chap. viii. 12. The fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Re. xxi. 8.

I saw

31 The Son of man shall come, &c.] See verse 6, and chap. xvi. 27; xix. 28. in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days; and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass

away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Da. vii. 13, 14. Ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal; yea, ye shall flee like as ye fled from before the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. Zec. xiv. 5. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. John i. 51. And (the Father) hath given him (the Son) authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 27, 28, 29. Ye men of Galilee (said the angels after Christ's ascension), why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Ac. i. 11. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 1 Th. iv. 16. But unto the Son, he (God) saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. He. i. 8. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him, even so, Amen. Re. 7.

Then shall he sit upon the throne, &c.] The Lord shall endure for ever; he hath prepared his throne for judgment. Ps. ix. 7. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Re. iii. 21. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it; from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Re. xx. 11.

32 Before him shall be gathered.] Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. Ps. xcvi. 12, 13. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Ps. xcviii. 8, 9. And the times of this ignorance (of the Gentile nations) God winked at; but now