h Mark iv. 33.

ples, in their great work of planting the gospel. However small and discouraging the commencement of their work in any place might be, they planted a seed which contained within itself the capacity of large and wonderful increase. So it has proved in every land, and in every heart, where it has been in truth received and diligently cultivated.

Verse 33. Like leaven.-The former parable was designed to illustrate the public and visible growth of Christ's religion; this, its secret and powerful operation in the soul of man, and in the moral state of society. Its influence is invisible, often slow; but it exerts a secret activity, conveying its own properties progressively, until, like the measures of meal, the whole mass is leavened. This must become matter of personal experience, that no principle of action, no affection of the soul, no temper, no thought, word, or action shall escape that influence of the gospel, the effect of which, when not wilfully counteracted, is to assimilate every thing to its own charity and purity. In the world the process, from the vastness of the mass, will be slow; and yet, what reflecting mind can fail to remark with joy, that, wherever the great truths of our divine religion are fully and faithfully preached, how certainly, and often indeed rapidly, do great moral changes in the state of society follow ?-a higher standard of judging as to right and wrong, a stricter regard to justice, a corrected state

i Psalm lxxviii. 2.

of morals, a more liberal benevolence, kindlier feelings, manliness of intellect, and an ameliorated state of the social affections. Let this encourage the exertions of the disciples of Christ. The elements of these mighty changes are not often brought into the calculations of the philosopher or the statesman; but they are silently placed amidst the thoughts and consciences of men, and exert there a growing influence. Far off may be the desirable consummation; but the leaven is silently at work; and the vast mass of the human race shall be ultimately brought under its influence.

Three measures of meal.-The σaтov, or measure, was about a peck and a half, English; and three measures were probably the quantity usually leavened at one time for domestic use.

Verse 35. That it might be fulfilled, &c. -This quotation is from Psalm lxxviii. 2; an inspired ode, which is attributed to Asaph, who is called, 2 Chron. xxix. 30, "Asaph the seer," or prophet. The subject of this Psalm is the history of God's dealings with the Jews, until he raised up David to be their shepherd; and as this history is that of a typical people and a typical king, it looks forward to the Christian dispensation, and to Christ the King of his church, appointed as the great Shepherd to feed and rule it. To the future state of that church, through its varied history, until Christ the true David should fully establish his dominion

45

for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field, by which, according to Jewish notions, he would acquire a right to the treasure: at least in the Mischna it is laid down, "that whoever buys anything of his neighbour, if money be found in the article bought, it belongs to the purchaser." On the exact morality of the case, the parable determines nothing; its object being simply to show that when men are brought to set a proper value upon the great treasure of salvation, they will make all the sacrifices which Christ requires of them, though it be to "leave all, and follow him," in order to attain it.

Verses 45, 46. Goodly pearls.-This parable appears not to differ in import from the preceding; only the variation in the metaphor serves to impress us the more deeply with the unrivalled value of the blessings of the gospel, and the necessity of taking every means to secure a personal interest in them. In the one they are compared to a treasure, generally; in the other to a pearl of great price, of the highest value, πολυτιμος μαργαρίτης. Pearls were favourite stones in the east, and estimated at a high value; and the adjacent coasts of the Red Sea made this article of traffic familiar to the Jews. Their value, like that of other precious stones, rose with their size, perfectness, and beauty. This was the GOODLIEST among goodly pearls, and of such value as well to repay the man who should sell his whole estate to purchase it. The moral is obvious. Possessed of what this pearl represents, every man is beyond calculation wealthy; and without it the most opulent are poor indeed!

Verse 47. A net cast into the sea, &c.The import of this parable is similar to that of the wheat and tares, though somewhat more general in its application. Its allusion to the occupation of those of the apostles who were fishermen would render it the more striking to them, though it is obvious to all. The large nets of the fishermen enclose both bad and good kinds of fish when used in waters where fish of these opposite qualities abound; and the separation of the noxious from the edible species followed immediately upon bringing the produce of the nets to shore, which represents, says our Lord, what will take place at the end of the world. Then the angels shall come forth; angels, as in the parable of the tares, not men; and for the same reason,-and sever the wicked from the just. See note on verse 30. Thus, though by the ministration of Christ's servants a visible mixed church only is formed, this will not remain its permanent character. In eternity the separation will be complete and final. On all these parables it may be remarked, that the leading parts only are intended to be significant, the rest belonging to the ornament or filling up of the narrative; and he who endeavours to bring forced and far-fetched meanings out of parables will generally mistake a perverted ingenuity for the intention and mind of God. This ought to operate as a sufficient caution; and an illustration or two of this absurd manner of treating parables will show that caution is not unnecessary. One eminent commentator has thus interpreted the parable of the leaven: "By the woman who leavened the meal is meant the wisdom of God; by the leaven, the doctrine

1 Mark vi. 1; Luke iv. 16.

the OLD Covenant and the NEW, as some commentators will have it, is probably a mere conceit, considered as an exposition of our Lord's meaning, though an important part of every minister's duty. But our Lord manifestly intended to inculcate, that those who teach others should possess a FULNESS of knowledge themselves on the great subjects of their ministry; that they also, like the householder, should be always gathering in NEW FRUITS TO THE OLD; that the storehouse of their minds should never be scanty; and that the same discrimination is necessary to a minister as to a householder, in providing and bringing forth the food which is suitable to the ages and circumstances of the family. The NEW things do not, however, mean NOVELTIES in kind; but, as the fruits laid up in the storehouse of the householder were fruits of the same kind, reaped from the same fields, or gathered from the same trees, so the new things which " a scribe well instructed" is to collect and distribute, are new impressions and views of the same truths, and a stronger perception of their application to the varied cases of men. These are given to him as the result of recent meditation and earnest prayer, and possess a freshness and a power which render their ministration influential upon himself and others. The truths which form the true food of the soul are few in their general principles, but infinitely deep and rich; and all successful and well-directed ministerial study brings them forth into clearer light, beauty, and acceptableness, and thus

m John vi. 42:

combines the old with the new, or the acknowledged principles of the word of God with their developement into all the particulars of faith, consolation, counsel, and duty.

Verse 54. Into his own country.-To Nazareth, where he had been brought up; which is so called in opposition to Capernaum, which was the place of his usual abode.

Verse 55. Is not this the carpenter's son ?— The word here translated carpenter,TEKTOV, signifies a worker in iron, stone, or wood, that is, an artificer; but when used alone, without an adjective, in scripture, it uniformly signifies a carpenter. Early tradition assigns this trade to Joseph; and as it was the constant rule among the Jews of all ranks to teach their sons some trade, our Lord might learn that of his reputed father. This, however, is by no means certain; for, as both Joseph and Mary knew him to be the promised Messiah, from the revelations of the angel and his extraordinary birth, this might not be required from him, though he was “subject" to them during his infancy and youth. It may, however, be fairly collected from the manner in which this question was put, and from the other references made by the people of Nazareth to his family, that they were in a lowly condition. He taught in the synagogues of this city; the people acknowledged, even with astonishment, the depth of his wisdom, and the might of his works; and yet, because he was the son of a carpenter, and his brethren and sisters were inhabit