LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. 95 would let up a temporal kingdom, and advance his dominion by the means which are ufed in the world to rife to fovereign greatnefs : and alto it might be intended to quiet the minds of his difciples, and prevent them from being difcouraged when they law that an immediate and rapid fuccefs did not attend their labours in the gofpel. The next parable which Jesus fpake to the multitude was that of the 'grain of mullard feed, which in Paleftine and other parts of the Eaff, rifes from a (mall feed to a large fpreading tree. The kingdom of heaven, Paid the divine Infirucl.or, is like to a grain of muflard feed, which a man took and lowed in his field; which indeed is the leafs of allfeeds but when it isgrown, it is the greats among herbs, and becometh a tree, fo that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 'This may be confidered as a continuation of the fub- jell of the former parable ; for though the gofpel feed may at firft feem (mall and contemptible, arifing from the crucifixion of it's divine Author, the inveterate hatred and final unbelief of the Jews, the mor- tifying natureof it's precepts, the weaknefs of the perlons employed to propagate it's divine truths, and the (mall number and meannefs of thofe who firft received it ; yet being founded on eternal truth, and fupported by divine power, it would in- creafe to a furprifing extent and greatnefs, filling the whole world, and affording divine inftruétion and comfort to perlons of all nations, who fhould enjoy the high pri- vileges of the Mefliah's kingdom, while the Jews, for their wickednefs in oppofing the truth, fhould be left in unbelief, cut off frombeing a nation, and fcattered like chaff over the face of the earth. Our great Redeemer then concluded his difcourfe with another parable of nearly the fame import with the foregoing. The kingdom of heaven, faid he, is like unto leaven, which a woman tookand hid in three meafures ofmeal till the whole was leavened : alluding to the filent and effeétual fpreading of the gofpel, by the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, and prevailing efficacy of divine truth. While our Lordwas employed in'deliver- ing thefe elegant and beautiful difcourfes, his mother and brethren came a fecond time, defiring an interviewwith him : per- haps they were unwilling that he fhould weary himfelf with the continual fatigue of preaching, and did not approve of his making himfelf fo public, and appearing in fo diflinguifhed a charaler amongft fuch van multitudes of people : and as it here- after will appear in the courfe of this hiftory, that his brethren did not believe in him, it is very likely they defigned to take him home with them, and perfuade him to attend to fecular affairs. But our exalted Redeemer was not to be diverted from following his Father's work, and per- forming the great duties of his miffion. On thefe grounds he appears to have de- clined the defired interview, with this anfwer, My mother and my brethren are thofe who hear the word ofGod, and do it. Evening now approaching, the bleffed JEsus difmiffed the multitude, and retired with his difciples to an houle in Caper- naum ; where, at their defire, he explained tothem the parable of the tares of the field, in the manner before related ; and then he. proceeded to deliver tò them the parable of the treafure hid in the field, and the parable of the pearl of great price. The firft of thefe parables holds forth the abun- dant glory, excellency, and value of the gofpel, above all earthly poffeffions and the laR denotes the willingnefs of all thole who are made acquainted with the high excellency and abundant worth of the gofpel, to part with their all in this world to obtain it. But, that the difciples might be informed that a mixed multitude of people would make a profeffion of the gofpel, and the hypocrites would be blended with
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=