Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out and they shall come from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and shall be guests in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last, who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence for Herod+ desireth to kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons, and I do cures to-day and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest those that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a bird ‡ doth her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold,§ your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sab

* Many Gentiles from all parts of the earth, shall be admitted into a state of happiness and glory, whilst the impenitent Jews, with all other unbelievers, will be thrust into eternal misery and despair.

These Pharisees were probably sent by Herod, with the design of intimidating our Lord, and therefore he charges them with the answer to Herod. He calls him 'a fox,' because he was a very crafty prince.

Bird, doubtless the hen, which was sometimes called, both by Greek and Latin writers, the bird, by way of eminence.

$ This was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Jewish temple, by the Romans under Titus.

bath, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy. And Jesus answering, spake to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? And they held their peace. And he took him and healed him, and sent him away. And answering them, he said, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out on the sabbath-day? And they could not answer him again to these things.

*

And he spoke a parable to those that were invited, when he marked how they choose out the chief places, saying unto them, When thou art invited by any one to a wedding, sit not down in the chief place, lest a more honourable man than thou be invited by him; and he that inviteth thee and him come and say to thee, Give place to this man ; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that invited thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher : then shalt thou have honour in the presence of those that sit at meat with thee. For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that had invited him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper,† call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbours, lest they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But

*He here justified the act of healing on the sabbath, by the common practice of the Jews themselves, with this difference, that he did it to relieve a man, they to assist a beast.

† Christ does not mean to prevent relations and friends from inviting one another to eat together, but teaches, that if we have money to spend on expensive feasts, we ought rather to expend it upon those who need it than on those who do not.

when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee for a recompense shall be made to thee at the resurrection of the just.

And one of them that sat at meat with him, hearing these things, said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread* in the kingdom of God. Then said he to him, A certain mant made a great supper, and invited many, and sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I am under the necessity to go and see it: I pray thee hold me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee hold me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and still there is room. And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compelt them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto

* To eat bread, was a usual phrase for a whole meal.

Christ's chief intention in this parable was, to foretell the rejection of the Jews, for the neglect of his gracious invitation; and the adoption of the Gentiles, represented by such as were in the lanes, hedges, and highways.

By compelling them to come, is not meant any outward violence, but earnest persuasion, which would not take a. denial. This refers to the sending out Apostles, &c. to preach earnestly every where.

you, That none of those men that were invited shall taste of my supper.

And great multitudes went with him; and turning he said to them, If any man come to me, and hate* not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross,+ and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower,‡ sitteth not down first and reckoneth the expense, whether he have wherewith to finish it? Lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet far off, he sendeth an embassy, and asketh conditions of peace. So likewise, every one of you that renounceth not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple. Salt§ is good; but if the salt have lost its savour, with

* "Hate," means, "be ready to forsake." Christ must be loved above all, and his followers must be ready, if called upon, to give up every enjoyment and comfort for

his cause.

+ Malefactors condemned to be crucified were compelled to bear their own crosses to the place of execution.

In these two parables our Lord advises his followers to consider well beforehand what a steady profession of religion is likely to cost them.

The true followers of Christ, but more especially good ministers, are compared to salt, and are of great use, both by their teaching and example; (as salt is not only itself free from corruption, but preserves other things,) but professing followers of Christ, destitute of the true Christian spirit, are compared to tasteless salt, the most worthless thing in the world.

what shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XVII.

Humbled,
Exalted,

To compel men to

come in.

To hate father, &c.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XVII.

WHAT are the contents of this lesson?

What did some of the Pharisees say of Herod's intentions, and what was Christ's answer?

Why did Christ call Herod a fox?

Repeat Christ's lamentation over Jerusalem ?

What had the people of Jerusalem done to the prophets? By what comparison did our Lord represent his wishes to save Jerusalem ?

For what purpose was he watched on the sabbath?

What cure did he then perform, and how did he justify his healing on the sabbath?

Were the Jews able to answer him?

What parable did he use about the chief places?
In what place did he recommend to sit down?

Who are to be exalted, and who are to be humbled?

When we make a feast, whom should we invite, and why? Repeat the parable of the great supper?

What excuses did those who were invited send? and who was angry?

What did the master of the house desire his servant to do? What did the servant tell his master, after having done what he was ordered to do?

Where was the servant sent the second time? and what was he to do?

What is meant by "compelling them to come in ?"
Who were not to taste of the supper ?

What is necessary to become Christ's disciple?

What is meant by hating father, mother, &c.?

By what parable did Christ represent the necessity of considering, before adopting his religion?

By what second parable did he represent the same?
For what is tasteless salt good?

Who are meant by "salt," and who by tasteless salt?