4

God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people he hath performed the mercy promised to our fathers, and the oath which he sware to Abraham." But the great mass of the nation, who are here rebuked, neither of themselves discovered this time, or judged what is right, neither would they believe what Jesus openly declared, "I that speak unto thee, am he." "The Spirit of the Lord hath anointed me to preach the gospel." They were refusing therefore, daily refusing, the opportunity granted them of becoming reconciled to God. They would not do that in the case of their souls, which common prudence recommends in the case of worldly things. They would not agree with their adversary quickly, as they were in the way, or give diligence that they might be delivered from him. They would not deal with their heavenly Judge, as they would be ready and thankful to act in earthly affairs. They who have incurred a debt which they cannot pay they who have transgressed a law: they who have offended a patron: would lose no time in endeavouring to set matters right, and escape the consequences. So let men act towards God.

But does this affect ourselves? Is God our adversary? Let each inquire of their own heart, and of themselves judge what is right. God is the adversary of all who live in unrepented, unforsaken sin. God is the adversary of all who are not at peace with him through the blood of the Cross, the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. He is the great Reconciler who has paid to the very last mite that

4 See ch. i. 67, &c.; and xi. 29-32.

which man never could pay, the penalty of sin, and has blotted out the debt of all who accept his ranThese shall never be cast into prison. They go in peace; their faith has saved them.

som.

LECTURE XLIX.

THE NATURE OF DIVINE JUDGMENTS.-PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG-TREE,

LUKE xiii. 1-9.

1. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3. I tell you, Nay: except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish..

4. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all them that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5. I tell you, Nay: except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

We know nothing of the circumstances mentioned in this passage, except what is here told us. In one case, the soldiers of Pilate seem to have sur1 One of the towers belonging to the wall of Jerusalem near the pool of the same name, mentioned John v. 2; ix. 7.

prised a party of Galileans, while sacrificing, and destroyed them; in the other case, a tower had fallen and buried eighteen persons in its ruins. This gives rises to a general remark. Suppose ye that these were persons of unusual wickedness, and therefore objects of God's vengeance? I tell you, Nay. Such judgments are no proof of this; but they are a call to every one, that they consider their ways. All calamity, all pain, all death, are testimonies of the anger of God on account of sin; and by what are termed remarkable providences, by earthquakes, and pestilence, and famine, and war, and whatsoever causes desolation, he awakens men from carelessness and sinful habits, if peradventure they may be converted and live. But those who perish by such calamities are not more certainly the objects of his anger than those who survive: it is a summons to repentance; it is a note preparatory to that awful sound, at which the earth and the sea shall give up their dead, and all shall stand before the Son of man: it is the warning trumpet which says, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish; Except ye be found in a state of acceptance through the Beloved, ye shall perish everlastingly,

This truth is further enforced by a parable, which explains why many sinners are spared, though others fall.

5. He spake also this parable: A crrtain man had a tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

The Jewish people were as trees in the vineyard

of the Lord of hosts, that vineyard which he had planted by the hand of Moses, and defended by the hedge of his law. We Christians are also trees in the vineyard which he has planted for himself by his beloved Son. He expected that the Jewish people should bring forth such fruit as he approves; not the evil fruit which springs from corrupt nature, but the good and acceptable fruits of "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, faith, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance." He expects the same from us: these are the signs of religion in the heart; these are fruits of the Spirit, which he from whom the Spirit proceeds requires of the trees in his vineyard. He comes, and seeks fruit and happy indeed are those on whom, when he comes, he finds this mark of sound and lively faith. He leaves them to flourish for a while in his earthly vineyard, to give proofs of the power of his grace, to display the excellence of his gospel, to nourish and adorn the world to which they belong; and at last, in his own good time, he takes them away from the ungenial climate to which they were exposed on earth, and transplants them into his heavenly vineyard, which no tempest ever reaches, and where no harm can touch them. For that which is sown in corruption is raised in incorruption.

It would be happy indeed for the world, and for those who compose the world, if this fruit were always found growing on the trees of the vineyard. The parable tells us, that He came und sought fruit thereon, and found none. Remember, God condemns the tree, not only which is poisonous but

S

which is barren. He comes, and seeks fruit; he expects the heart to be full of love and reverence towards himself; to be abounding in benevolence towards mankind; he expects it to be adding to faith, virtue, and knowledge, and temperance, and patience, and godliness, and brotherly kindness, and charity. Ask of yourselves, does he find this fruit in you?

7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Here is the merciful offer of the dresser of the vineyard, the Lord Jesus, who "ever liveth at the right hand of God to make intercession for us." Let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it. Various are the methods which he takes with men to convince them of their sin, their danger. Sometimes he tries the careless or the wicked with sickness, if that may bring the certainty of death and judgment before their eyes; sometimes he visits them with affliction, if that may make them quit their hold of earthly things; and other warnings are constantly given them. The Bible warns them; the minister warns them; their friends and acquaintances are taken away, and remind them what must be their own case soon. These things pass in the world as the ordinary occurrences of life: but we learn from Scripture that they are connected with a divine plan, and constitute part of