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It appeareth from this fhort Account that hath been given of the Parables in Matt. xiii, which more especially relate to the Nature of Chrift's Kingdom or the Evangelical Difpenfation, and the State of the Chriftian Church, that they are of great and manifold Ufe, and contain important Inftructions. And though fome of them might appear obfcure to the Jews to whom they were firft delivered, and indeed could not be fo clearly understood till the Time came for the more diftin& Manifeftation of Christ's Kingdom; yet as they were defigned for the Inftruction, not merely of that, but of fucceeding Ages; fo the Beauty and Propriety of them, and the great Wisdom that shineth in them, as well as the exact Forefight Christ had of the State of Things in the Church and World, are eminently confpicuous.

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On the Parables of our Saviour.

DISCOURSE XII.

MATTHEW xiii. 3.

And he spake many Things unto them in Parables.

N the former Difcourfe, after having

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made fome Obfervations concerning the Nature and Ufe of Parables in general, efpecially thofe of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, we proceeded to diftribute them, with Regard to the Subject-Matter of them, under two Heads.

First, Some of our Saviour's Parables relate to the Nature of his Kingdom, or of the Gospel Difpenfation, and the State

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of the Chriftian Church; and to what bears a near Affinity to it, the Rejection of the Jews, and Calling of the Gentiles: All which Parables have fomething in them of a prophetical Nature.

Secondly, Others of his Parables, and by far the greater Part of them, are defigned to convey excellent religious or moral Inftructions for leading us into the Knowledge of important Truths, and for the Regulation of our Temper and Prac

tice.

We have already confidered feveral of Chrift's Parables relating to the Nature of his Kingdom, and the State of the Chriftian Church: Such particularly are the Parables recorded in this xiiith Chapter of Matthew, of which we took a brief View.

Let us now proceed to take Notice of others of our Saviour's Parables, which bear a near Affinity to these, and have also fomething prophetical in them, viz. thofe that relate to the Rejection of the Jews, and the Calling of the Gentiles.

The Rejection of the Jews, their great Guilt in crucifying the Son of God, and flighting and oppofing his Gofpel, and the Punishment that fhould be inflicted upon them on that Account, is represented in a ftrong and expreffive Manner in that 'remarkable Parable of the Vineyard that was

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let out to Husbandmen, who, when the Lord of the Vineyard fent his Servants to them, that he might receive the Fruits thereof, Seized his Servants, fome of whom they beat, and others they killed; and at length, upon bis Sending his Son, most cruelly murdered him. Matt. xxi. 33-39. Upon which Jefus puts the Queftion to his Auditors, When the Lord of the Vineyard cometh, what will be do unto thefe Hufbandmen? And when they faid, He will miferably deftroy thofe wicked Men, and will let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen, which fhall render him the Fruits in their Seafons; he directly and expreffly applieth it to the Cafe of the Jews: Therefore I fay unto you, the Kingdom of God fhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof.

This alfo feemeth to be one Thing intended in the Parable, which we have, Luke xix. 12,13. of the Nobleman that went into a far Country to receive for himself a Kingdom, and to return; and called bis Servants, and delivered them Money to be occupied, or improved, till he came. It is obferved concerning him, Ver. 14, that his Citizens hated him, and fent a Messenger to him, faying, We will not have this Man to reign over us. And, Ver, 27, he is reprefented as declaring, upon his Return, when he VOL. IV.

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