LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. would be no difadvantage to them, nor to any that fincerely defired to be in- fit-tided, and attended on him in humility of heart, that the truths he delivered were clothed in parables ; for fuels per fons would carefully confider his words, and refort to him for their explanation : and the truths themfelves, clothed in this beautiful veil, would be more attractive to the humble inquiring mind; and, when carefully confidered,- appear plain, fimple, and eafy to be underftood. But the proud, Pelf-conceited Scribes and Pharifees, were fo blinded by their prejudices, that they would not give them- felves time to confider, but would heartily defpife fuch - methods of teaching, and condemn, as low and contemptible, the plain alluftons: in which the divine truths were reprefented. Our great Redeemer did not alter his manner of teaching for their fakes, but dreffed the great truths of the gofpel in fuch metaphorical robes as they did heartily defpife, and which would for ever conceal them from perfons of their temper and conduct. Nor need it be wondered at, the bleffed J>aus further obferved, that he took this method with this fort of men ; . for it had been prophecied of him, that he fhould open his mouth in parables, and utter -things which had been kept fecret from the foun- dation of the world. And concerning the pride, obftinacy, perverfenefs, and -in- fidelity of the rulers of the Jews, Ifaiah had long ago prophecied to them, that,-by hearing ye flail hear, and (hall not under- ftand ; and Peeingye (hallfee, and(hall not perceive : for this people's heart is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have clofed ; to at any time they, fhould fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and fhould un- derftand with their heart, _ and fhould be converted, and Ifliouldheal them. There is fome little variation between the words, as quoted by our Saviour, 2 91- and thofe found in the prophecy of Ifaiah ; but the meaning is the fame in each, and the fence manifefily is, that the Jewifh nation fhould hear the doc- trines of the gofpel, but not underftand them ; and fee the miracles wrought in confirmationof the truth of thofe doárines, but not perceive them to be wrought by the power of God : not becaufe the evidences produced by our great Redeemer, were infufficient to convince' a judicious and impartial inquirer after truth; but be- caufe the corruption and depravity of the hearts of the proud Pharifees, would not fuffer them to examine and weigh thefe evidences; for the fins of that people had hardened their hearts, their pride and vanity had Phut their ears, and their hypocrify and bigoted adherence to tra- dition, and forced interpretations of the law, had clofed their eyes ; fo that the bright rays of divine truth could not Thine upon their dark minds, nor the powerful voice of heavenly wifdom awaken their attention, or command their aflènt. Such were the reafons affigned by our great Redeemer, for his teaching the people in parables; and then he pro- ceeded to remind his difciples of the great privileges they enjoyed, in having the opportunity of learning, from his heavenly lips, thofe things which the pro- phets ofold fo earneftly defired to know and underftand : But bied, faid he, are your eyes, for they fee; and your ears, fir they hear: for verily I fay unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have defired to fee thole things which ye fee, and have not teen these asid to hear thole things which ye hear, and have not heard' them. The fish parable which the bleffed Jesus delivered to the multitude, was that of the fower, who-call his feed into different kinds of foil, the product of which was anfwerable to the nature of the ground; fome yielding a large increafe, 'and
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