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ST. MATTHEW.

Do not imagine that I have told you of things, which are long hence to be done: no; I assure you, that all these things which I have foretold, concerning the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, and all the appendances thereof, shall be effected in your very time and sight; so as this present generation shall be the witnesses of the fulfilling of every word, that I have spoken concerning these matters.

XXIV. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Know, that my word cannot fail and disappoint you: the heaven and the earth have their time set, when they shall pass away; but the truth of my word is everlasting, and shall continue when this frame of the world shall be dissolved.

XXIV. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

But, as for the day and hour of my Second Coming, I would not have you to be curiously inquisitive into it: that is a secret, which is not disclosed to the very Angels of heaven, but reserved only in the hidden counsel of my Father which is in heaven.

XXIV. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

But I give you this general intimation of the condition of the time, wherein it shall be; that, as it was in the days of Noah, before the Universal Deluge swept away mankind, so shall it be in that time, wherein the Son of Man shall come to judge the world in fire. So verses 38, 39.

XXIV. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

This dreadful coming of Christ shall not have the like issue unto all: to some, it shall be terrible; to others, happy it shall make a perfect distinction between them, whom the world made no difference between. Two shall be found in the field, about the same work; one of them shall be taken up to glory, the other shall be, as a reprobate, left to everlasting confusion. So verse 41. XXIV. 43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Ye are forewarned, and therefore fail not to watch: if the good man of the house be informed, beforehand, in what watch the thief will come, though he be not told of the hour wherein he is like to come, he will be sure to stand upon his guard all that part of the night, and not suffer himself to be surprised, and his house to be broken up.

XXIV. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.

So do ye, therefore: though the hour be not designed to you, yet you hear that the Son of Man will both surely and suddenly come to judgment; be ye, therefore, ever ready to receive him, whensoever he comes.

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XXIV. 45, 46 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Whosoever, therefore, shall approve himself a faithful officer in the family of God, distributing to every one that measure of allowance which his master hath ordained, improving all his gifts and opportunities to the best service of God; Blessed and happy is he, for being found so doing: so he shall be sure that his industry, and justice, and fidelity shall be recompensed with eternal glory.

XXIV. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Verily I say unto you, As an earthly master remunerates such a servant with preferment and honour in his household, committing the rest unto his oversight and government; so will the God of Heaven reward him, that is thus spiritually just and faithful, with an everlasting weight of glory. By the contrary expound verses 48, 49, 50, 51.

XXV. 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

While men are here indifferently mingled together, their state seems all alike: all would be thought to be as wise virgins; but, at the end of the world, it shall appear what every one is. As the manner is, that virgins meet the bridegroom, and attend upon him till he be brought into the bridechamber; so all, that take upon them to profess the Name of Christ, make shew of a ready and forward attendance upon his person and ordinances.

XXV. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. But, indeed, many of them are but false and hypocritical, which will appear in the issue,

XXV. 3, 5, 6, 8 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. For, as those virgins are foolish, who do not furnish their lamps. with store of oil, which may continue their light, according to the occasion of their attendance; so those men are spiritually sottish, who do not labour for true faith, and all other sound graces of the Spirit, which may enable them to persevere unto the end, and may make them capable of the glory of the Heavenly Bridegroom. So verses 9, 10, 11, 12.

XXV. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability. Unto one, the Great Master of the Family, the God of Heaven, hath given greater gifts, faculties, opportunities; to another, less; but to all, some; with an intention, that they should be

employed to the honour and advantage of his Name, who is the Owner and Bestower of them.

XXV. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

But he, that had received the least measure and proportion of stock from the hand of God, was careless in the improving it; and made no use at all of it, for the profit of his master.

XXV. 24, 25 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. lo, there thou hast that is thine.

As the idle and negligent servant, when his business succeeds not, is ready to cast the blame upon his master, pretending his hardness, and straitness, and morosity; so is the unfaithful and indi ligent man apt to lay the fault upon his Maker, when he hath omitted his good services, and run himself into judgment.

XXV. 26, 27 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

I have given good proofs of my bounty to all my creatures; but, if I were such as thou slanderest me, one that would be willing to receive more than I give, why didst thou not the rather take a course to increase that stock, which I committed unto thee; that so I might have received the advantage of mine own gifts.

XXV. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Whosoever, through the effectual inoperation of God's Spirit, shall improve those graces and helps which he hath received, to the further honour of God, he shall receive a further accession both of grace and glory; and he, that quencheth the Spirit, and suppresseth the good motions thereof, and rejects those good means which are offered him, shall be stripped of all those common favours which he hath, and lose the hope of all that he might have attained.

XXV. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As that earthly master would justly cast such an unprofitable servant out of doors, into the darkness and cold, there to miscarry, while himself and his thrifty followers are entertained with good cheer and light within; so shall the just God cast out such evil and unfaithful servants from his presence, and thrust them down into the dark pit of hell, where there is nothing but wailing and horror.

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XXV. 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

And he shall set his elect and holy ones, as sheep, on the right hand; and the wicked and reprobate, as goats, on the left.

XXV. 35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; &c. For ye have manifested the truth of your faith, which only can give you just claim to heaven, by the fruits of your good and charitable works: when I, in my poor members upon earth, was hungered, ye gave me meat; &c.

XXVI. 2 And the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.

The Son of Man is already, by Judas, in his intended conspiracy with the high priests and elders, betrayed to death, and that to the death of the Cross.

XXVI. 3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest.

Then assembled together both the high priest of that year (for they were now grown annual), and the chief fathers of all those priestly families, and the scribes, and the elders of the people; all which, conjoined together, made up a perfect Council of the

Jews.

XXVI. 6 In the house of Simon the leper.

In the house of Simon, who had been a leper, but, being cured, retained still the name of his fore-past disease.

XXVI. 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment.

Then came to him a woman, noted for her zeal to Christ, even Mary Magdalene, having an alabaster box of very precious and

sweet ointment.

XXVI. 8, 9 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Judas saw it, he grudged at it; and, conceiving great indignation thereat, stirred up his fellow-disciples to murmur at this act of Mary; saying, What great pity it is, that an ointment of so great price should be thus poured out in waste! There might have been a great sum raised upon it, which might have been distributed to the poor, and have yielded a long and durable relief unto them; whereas now it is spent to little purpose.

XXVI. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Ye do willingly allow sweet balms and rich perfumes for the dead; behold, this woman hath herein reached beyond your conceit: she hath done this, as her last office, towards my burial. I am now sitting with you at supper: my thoughts are upon my grave; and this woman hath hereby made a bountiful and loving preparation for those my last exequies.

XXVI. 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; &c.

1, who know the motions and the thoughts of all men, do foretel

you, that, going into the city, ye shall meet a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow ye that man; and say to him, Thus saith our Master, My time is now at hand, wherein I shall both keep the Passover, and be made an Everlasting Passover for my Church: I have made choice of thy house, to honour it with this my last feast, &c.

XXVI. 23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

Even one of you, my familiar and domestic attendants, who sitteth now with me, and dippeth his hand in the same dish with me and you, shall be so perfidious as to betray me, and sell me into the hands of my enemies.

XXVI. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Then Judas, who was secretly guilty of this wickedness, thinking that his silence might be an accusation of himself, durst boldly ask, as hoping to outface the matter, Master, is it I? Jesus said unto him, Since thy guiltiness hath taken the boldness to ask this question, do not think that either thy secrecy or impudence can carry it away without notice: Thou art the man.

XXVI. 26 Take, eat; this is my body.

Take, eat; this bread is sacramentally my very body: so as, if ye do worthily receive this element, ye do therewith partake of me: while your hand and your mouth take and eat this bread, your souls do truly and really receive me, who am represented, and exhibited, and conveyed into you, by and with this outward sign.

XXVI. 28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

This wine is sacramentally my very blood, whereby the New Testament is ratified, and sealed up to and with all my faithful ones; which blood of mine is now to be shed for the redemption of mankind, and for the remission of the sins of all penitents and true believers.

XXVI. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

It is a farewell cup, that I now drink with you: for I will no more, in this mortal state, drink, from henceforth, of this fruit of the vine; but shall reserve myself for a more comfortable draught, sweeter than all the new wine which earth can afford; of glory and happiness, which I shall enjoy in my Father's kingdom, whereof ye shall be blessed partakers with me.

XXVI. 31 All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

All ye shall be scandalized, and drawn into offence with that, which shall be done unto me this night: for your hearts will fail you, and ye shall weakly yield to forsake me, when ye see me laid hold of, and carried away violently by mine enemies; so as

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