36. Only as to the exact †day and hour, when this final Defolation fhall be compleated, God has Revealed that neither to Man nor Angel. (And in like manner the Time, when the End of the World, and the Laft Judgment shall be, God has referved as a fecret known only to himself.) 37. But this I may tell you, that all these things, which I have now forewarned you of, fhall come fuddenly and very unexpectedly to the generality of Mankind. 38 39. For as in the For as in the days of Noah, Men went on fecure and intent upon their Worldly Bufinefs, and had no regard to the Preaching of that good Man, till the very day that 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days alfo the coming of of Noe were, fo fhall the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were be were eating and fore the flood, they drinking, marrying and giving in marrithat Noe entred into the ark, riage, untill the day +It is an extraordinary ingenious Conjecture of Grotius,ta make ἡμέρα εκείνη here, oppofed to ταυτα πάντα in v.34. So that the Senfe may be, Tauтa Távтa, the Destruction of the fews, fhall be presently; but user exévn, the last day of Fudgment, is known to none. Yet the Sense may be carried on entire, without this oppofition; as in the Paraphrase. " and took them all Son of man be. 39 And knew not the Flood furpriz'd untill the flood came, and deftroyed them all: away; fo fhall alfo So in this Generation the the coming of the Jews fhall go on obftinately in their own ways, unconcerned at the warnings which I and my Disciples give them, till the Romans fhall come upon them and deftroy them utterly: (And in like manner at the end of the World, Men will be wholly taken up about their Bufinefs and their Pleafures, till the Appearance of Chrift and the last Judgment Surprize them). 40 Then fhall two be in the field, the one fhall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women fhall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left. For 40 & 41. Yet at these times God will make very great and remarkable di tinctions of Men. at the General Desolation of Judea, out of Men employ'd about the same bufinefs and feemingly equal in all Worldly concerns, God will by ftrange Acts of Providence rescue fome from this Calamity, wherein the reft fhall be left to perifh: (And in like manner at the Day of Judgment, there fhall be an infinite difference ference made between Men, whom the World diftinguifb'd not at all). 42. Since therefore these things will certainly be thus, and yet ye know not the time when they will be; it highly concerns you to be very vigilant and watchful, that when thefe Terrible Calamities, (or when Death and Judgment) fball come upon you, ye may be found in the Number of thofe, whom God fhall think worthy to be Ref cu'd or Sav'd. 43. Ye know in other Cafes, if a Houfholder, for inftance, had notice given him that his Houfe was in danger to be Robbed in fuch or fuch a Night, he would be fure to Watch and prevent the Thieves from breaking in. 44. How much more ought ye to be always ready and provided, fince ye know not at what time thefe Terrible Calamities, (or when Death and Judg ment) will come?..... 45 Who then is a faithful and wife fervant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his houf hold, to give them meat in due season? 45. And now who is that faithful and wife Dif ciple, who being intrufted with the Knowledg of God's Will, or being appointed by him to Preach the Gospel and reform others; fhall heartily and fincerely, make use of all his gifts and opportunities, to the Service of God, and to the best improvement of himself and others? 46. Bleffed is that Dif ciple, whom Chrift at his coming fhall find thus employ'd. 47. Affuredly I tell you, as an earthly Mafter rewards fuch a faithful Servant with great Honour and Preferment in his Family; fo God will reward the fidelity of fuch a Disciple with the greatest degree of Glory, in his Eternal Kingdom. 48& 48 49. But if on the contrary, fuch a Disciple as God has intrufted with great Talents, and many 49 And fhall be gin to fmite his fel- opportunities low-fervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken: of of doing good, fhall begin to think with |