shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them; 1 and if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Lu. xii. 37, 38. 42, 43. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour; yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better. Phi. i. 21, 22, 23. For I am now ready to be s offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not unto me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Ti. iv. 6, 7, 8. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may able after my Idecease to have these things always in remembrance. 2 Pe. i. 13, 14, 15. I know thy works (said the faithful witness to the church in Thyatira), and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. Re. ii. 19. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Re. xvi. 15.

47 That he shall make him ruler, &c.] Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter hou into the joy of thy Lord. Mat. xxv. 21. 23. They that be wise shall shine as the >rightness of the firmament; and they that urn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. Da. xii. 3. Blessed are those ervants, whom the Lord, when he cometh hall find watching. Verily I say unto you, hat he shall gird himself, and make them to it down to meat, and will come forth and erve them. Blessed is that servant whom is Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make im ruler over all that he hath. Lu. xii. 37. 13, 44. Well, thou good servant, because hou hast been faithful in a very little, have hou authority over ten cities. Lu. xix. 17.

I appoint you a kingdom (said Jesus to his disciples), as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Lu. xxii. 29, 30. If any man serve me let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour. John xii. 26. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Ti. ii. 12. When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye (who feed the flock of Christ) shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Pe. v. 4. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Re. iii. 21. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Re. xxi. 7.

48 If that evil servant shall say.] O thou wicked servant (said the merciful king in the parable), I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me. Mat. xviii. 32. Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, &c. Mat. xxv. 26, 27. Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant: thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow; wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank? &c. Lu. xix. 22, 23.

Say in his heart.] Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them (the Anakims) out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land; but for the wickedness of these nations (said Moses), the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. De. ix. 4. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. De. xv. 9. Went not mine heart with thee (said Elisha to his servant Gehazi) when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men servants, and maid-servants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. 2 Ki. v. 26, 27. The vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty

the soul of the hungry; and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. Is. xxxii. 6. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Mar. vii. 21, 22. But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maidens, and to eat and drink and be drunken, the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. Lu. xii. 45, 46. Supper being ended, the Devil now having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus riseth from supper, &c. John xiii. 2. Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Ac. v. 3. Repent therefore (said Peter to Simon the sorcerer) of this thy wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. dc. viii. 22.

My Lord delayeth his coming.] Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ec. viii. 11. Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel. But say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. Ez. xii. 22, 23. Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Ex. xii. 27. There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation; for this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water, and in the water. 2 Pe. iii. 3, 4, 5.

Hear

49 To smite his fellow-servants.] the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word, Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Is. lxvi. 5. Ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 2 Co. xi. 20. Feed the flock: neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 1 Pe. v. 2, 3. I

wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, whe loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not: wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3 John 9, 10. And there was given unto "him" ("the beast with seven heads and tex horns") a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Re, xin. 5. They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. Re. xvi. 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. Re. xvii. 6.

And if any

And to eat and drink, &c.] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat. vii. 15. The "priests '” (“Ens sons") custom with the people was, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand; and be struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up, the priest took for himself. Also, before they burnt the fat, the priests' servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now; and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men (Eli's sons) was very great before the Lord. 1 Sa. ii. 13-17 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded is my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me (said the Lord to Eli), to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 1 Sa. ii. 29. Come ye, say "they" ("the blind watchmen”), I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. Is. lvi. 12. Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. Ez. xxxiv. 3. Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peaces and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Mi. iii. 5. They that are such (who cause divisions, &c.) serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple.

of teeth.

Ro. xvi. 18. Mark them which walk so (for many walk, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Phi. iii. 17. 19. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Tit. i. 10, 11. And (the false teachers) shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time: spots they are, blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls, an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. 2 Pe. i. 13, 14. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Jude 12.

50 Come in a day, &c.] See verses 42-44. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Pr. xxix. 1. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail on a woman with child, and they shall not escape. 1 The. v. 2, 3. If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Re. iii. 3.

51 And appoint him his portion.] This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and he heritage appointed unto him by God (the increase of his house shall depart, &c.) Job xx. 29.

The sinners in Zion are afraid; earfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring ire? Who among us shall dwell with everlastng burnings? Is. xxxiii. 14. The Lord of that wicked) servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when e is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the inbelievers. Lu. xii. 46.

There shall be weeping, &c.] See chap. viii. 12 and xxii. 13.

CHAP. XXV.-1 Then.] See chap. xxiv. 41-51. and Lu. xxi. 34-36.

The kingdom of heaven.] See chap. iii. 2; xiii. 24. 31. 38. 44, 45. 47; xx. 1; xxii. 2.

Ten virgins.] She (the king's daughter) shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. Ps. xlv. 14. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee (the church of Christ). Cant. i. 3. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem (said the church of Christ), if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him (Christ) that I am sick of love. His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Can. v. 8. 16. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women; whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the choice one of her that bare her: the daughters saw her and blessed her. Can. vi. 1. 9. I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Co. xi. 2. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Re. xiv. 4.

Which took their lamps.] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mat. v. 16. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Lu. xii. 35, 36. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in

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the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Phi, ii. 14, 15, 16. Went forth to meet.] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Ti. iv. 8. We should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Ti. ii. 12, 13. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 2 Pe. i. 13, 14, 15. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pe. iii. 11, 12, 13.

The bridegroom.] Jesus said unto them, (the Pharisees), Can the children of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Mat. ix. 15. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. Mat. xxii. 2. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women (alluding to the majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom), upon thy right hand did stand the queen, in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord, and worship thou him. Ps. xlv. 9, 10, 11. Thy Maker (said the prophet to the church) is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his

name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. Is. liv. 5. "Thou" ("the church") shalt no more be termed forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate : but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Is. xii. 4, 5. Can the children of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have

the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. Mar. ii. 19, 20. Can ye make the children ofthe bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? Bet the day will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. Lu. v. 34, 35. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. John iii. 29. I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Ca. xi. 2. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love ther wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and his church. Ep. v. 25-32. Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to "him" ("the Lord God Onnipotent"), for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and "his wife" ("the church") hath made herself ready. Re. xix. 7. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Re. xxi. 2. 9.

2 Five of them, &c.] Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came; and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it. Mat. vii, 24-27. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth if not, then

cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that received seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world : and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into good ground, is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, Csome an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. Mat. xiii. 19-23. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares (in the parable) are the children of the wicked one. Mat. xiii. 38. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Mat. xiii. 47, 48. So those servants (of the king who made a marriage for his son) went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. Mat. xxii. 10, 11. One basket (in the vision of Jeremiah, for shewing the restoration from captivity) had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. Je. xxiv. 2. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be gnorant how that all our fathers were under he cloud, and all passed through the sea: nd were all baptized unto Moses, in the loud and in the sea; and did all eat the same piritual meat, and did all drink the same piritual drink (for they drank of that spiritual ock that followed them, and that rock was Christ); but with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Co. x. 1-5. "They" ("the educers") went out from us, but they were ot of us: for if they had been of us, they would o doubt have continued with us; but they rent out that they might be made maniest that they were not all of us. 1 John ii. 9. I will therefore put you in rememrance, though ye once knew this, how that he Lord having saved the people out of the and of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that elieved not. Jude v.

3 Foolish took their lamps, &c.]

Woe unto

you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Mat. xxiii. 25, 26. Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel; and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or in righteousness. For they call themselves of the Holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is his name. Is. Iviii. 1, 2. Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God. They ask of me the ordinance of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Is. lviii. 1, 2. If when "he" ("the watchman") seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet and warn the people, then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet and taketh not warning, if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. Ez. xxxiii. 3, 4. In the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their ownselves having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. 2 Ti. iii. 1-5. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. He. xii. 14, 15. I know thy works (said he that hath the seven spirits of God, to the angel of the church in Sardis), that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. I know thy works (said the same to the church of the Laodiceans), that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou were cold or hot: so then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Re. iii. 1. 15.

16.

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4 Oil in their vessels, &c.] Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Ps. xlv. 7. And (the angel) said unto "me" (" Zechariah"), What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof; and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon