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SERMON IX.

On the Parable of the Tares.

MATTH. xiii. 36.

His difciples came unto him, faying; Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

CLOUDS and darkness are round about

the Almighty yet righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his throne (a). Of the counfels of Infinite Wisdom fome remain infcrutable to man. Hence faith is awakened, exercifed, ftrengthened. From others of the divine difpenfations the veil is partially withdrawn. Hence arife augmented admiration, livelier gratitude, warmer love. If the ancient prophets fully understood not the import of their own predictions; if there were myfteries in the plan of re

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demption into which the angels earnestly defired to obtain a more penetrating infight (6): fhall man complain, if, for his own especial benefit, knowledge is in fome inftances withheld? If, in others, exifting obfcurities are diffipated; fhall he not eagerly welcome the illuminating beam, and gratefully govern his fteps by its light?

It was not feldom through the medium of parabolic representation that our Lord communicated the most important truths. Whether doctrines were to be developed, or moral precepts to be enforced, the parable, fententious in its construction and interefting by its narrative, feized the memory, the judgement, and the heart. The parable before us has for its object to unfold fome myfterious parts of the proceedings of God with refpect to men, especially under the difpenfation of the Gospel. The inftruction which it conveys is in every point momentous, and worthy of the doctrine of the Son of God.

The kingdom of heaven, faid our Saviour, is likened unto a man, which fowed good feed in his field. But while men flept, his enemy

VOL. II.

(b) 1 Pet. i. 10-12.

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came

came and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was Sprung up and brought forth fruit; then appeared the tares alfo. So the fervants of the boufeholder came, and faid unto him; Sir, didft not thou fow good feed in thy field ? From whence then hath it tares? He faid unto them, An enemy hath done this. The fervants faid, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he faid, Nay: left, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up alfo the wheat with them. Let both grow together unto the harvest: and in the time of barveft I will fay to the reapers, Gather ye together firft the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them : but gather the wheat into my barn.

If, in confidering the meaning of this parable, you pay due attention to the guidance of Scripture, it will be impossible to fall into error. For our Lord himself, in compliance with the requeft of his difciples, has delivered a distinct and complete interpretation.

Jefus anfwered: He that foweth the good feed is the Son of man. The field is the world. The good feed are the children of the kingdom. The tares are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that fowed them is

the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; fo fhall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man fhall fend forth his angels; and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: and fhall caft them into a furnace of fire: there fhall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then fhall the righteous Shine forth as the fun in the kindgom of their Father.

In the parable, connected with this fure explanation, we meet with various leffons, which it highly behoves us to lay to

heart.

I. The Son of God defcended from heaven and took upon himself the nature of man, that he might fow, by himself and his Apostles, the good feed of the Gospel throughout the world. But fcarcely had the crop fprung up, when it was found to be mixed with fuch a profufion of tares, of useless and noxious weeds, as threatened to overwhelm it. The prevalence of evil in the Church of Chrift has proved a ftumbling-block to many. They see multitudes of Chriftians, even whole nations, fwallowed

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fwallowed up in the groffeft corruption of doctrine; rendering worship to angels, to departed men, to images of wood and ftone, to pictures, to reliques; and fatiffied that the pardon of fin may be bestowed upon them by men like themselves, or may be purchased by fenfelefs ceremonies and

perftitious obfervances. Even in thofe countries where Christianity is preached in its original purity, they behold various herefies and errors; much secret unbelief; a very general lukewarmness as to religion; and a numerous hoft, even thousands and tens of thousands, among profeffed Chriftians refembling heathens in pride, worldly-mindedness, and fenfuality. When they see these things, they are ready to exclaim; "If the Son of God has cul"tivated and planted this field; how is it "thus overspread with tares?" In fome, aftonishment advances to infidelity. Not distinguishing between Christianity and the corruption blended with it, they turn with difguft from both and conclude that, a religion which produces fuch fruit must be falfe. Now fo far is the predominance of evil in the Chriftian church from rendering the truth of Christianity doubtful, that it bears teftimony to its confirmation: for it

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