serve was "approved of God by miracles and signs and wonders." The doctrines which he promulgated, and the promises which he proclaimed, were attested by the power of the Most High. "Hold fast, then, the profession of your faith without wavering "." You have a strong refuge in the hope set before you. He is faithful that hath promised, and he hath given the assurance, “ Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life "."

Heb. x. 23.

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Rev. ii. 10.

SERMON XVII.

THE PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER.

[SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.]

MATT. XX. 1.

For the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

THE parable, of which this text is the introduction, is evidently connected with the discourse of our Saviour at the conclusion of the preceding chapter; my text, beginning with the word "For," which denotes a continued discourse. And the words at the end of the preceding chapter, are the same with which our Saviour sums up the moral of this parable-"The last shall be first, and the first last"." The sense in which these words are applied, will be a key to the import of this parable which has been recited as the Gospel for the day.

Matt. xx. 16.

In the 13th chapter of Luke, the same words are evidently applied by our Saviour to denote the rejection of the Gospel by the Jews, and the acceptance of it by the Gentiles" There shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are first which shall be last, and there are last which shall be first"." The Jews who had been "first" called by God, who had long heard his voice by patriarchs and prophets, rejecting his Gospel, become the "last," are cast off from being his peculiar people; while the Gentiles, who "last" received his call in the gracious invitations of the Gospel, gladly embracing them, are ranked among his people on earth, and continuing obedient, are finally exalted to his kingdom in heaven.

With this key to the meaning of the parable, let us proceed in the investigation of it, in order that we may profit by the practical truths which it inculcates.

1. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard."

b Luke xiii. 28, 29, 30.

The " kingdom of heaven," a common expression in the sacred writings for the Church, is here denoted under the similitude of a "vineyard ;" into which God, the divine "householder," called men; in order that they might labor in every good word and work, and bring forth fruit unto perfection. The kingdom of heaven, or the Church, is here understood, in its most extensive sense, to signify the revelation of God's will to mankind from the beginning of the world; denoted by the phrase "early in the morning." And the expression 'hiring," implies God's gracious promises of rewards to the laborers in his spiritual vineyard, the faithful members of his Church.

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2. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place.

4. And said unto them-go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give it you.

5. Again he went out about the fifth and ninth hour, and did likewise.'

The Jews divided their day into four parts; at each of which, as principal hours of the day, the householder is represented as going into the market-place, to which persons who were desirous of work resorted, and engaging laborers, for a sti

pulated price, to work in his vineyard. These various hours denote, that there were different periods previously to the times of the Gospel, which were distinguished by peculiar dispensations of God's will. Thus the Jews were "called" at various times by the Patriarchs, by Moses, and by the Prophets, to the service of God, as his people; with the promise of reward for their labor.

In the succeeding verses we are presented with the call to the Gentiles under the last dispensation of God's grace.

6. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle?

7. They saith unto him, because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."

The state of the Gentiles, who were never admitted into covenant with God, seems particularly pointed out by the answer to the enquiry of the householder, "Because no man hath hired us." They had never, like the Jews, been engaged to labour in the spiritual vineyard, nor offered the rewards of the covenant of promise. But at " the eleventh hour," in the last times, by which, in the sacred writings, is characterised the period of the Gospel dispensation, the middle wall of partition that confined the service and the rewards of the