he said, that is, "Master," or

Sir," "Let it

alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." If it might stay another year, he would take double pains with it, he would dig the ground around it, he would manure it well, he would do all that could be done. Perhaps it might bear fruit after all. If so, it would be well; a tree would be gained. But if not, then he would ask for no more delay, then let it be cut down. It was the fig-tree's last chance.

The Lord Jesus Christ pleads for sinners; for the useless, the formal, the impenitent, the unbelieving; for those who do no good, but rather harm; for cumberers of the ground. Once He died for sinners, now He pleads for them. Not merely for sinners in general, but for this person and for that person, one by one. That he may not be cut down, that more time may be granted, more yet after so many years of patient longsuffering, another year, "this year also;" yes, perhaps sometimes that very space of time-who knows? "Let it alone this year also." He is pleading thus for the unprofitable continually.

"Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

Then the gracious Saviour uses further means with him who is thus spared: for He is Lord of all; He has all means and instruments within His power. Perhaps He orders a man's lot so that he shall hear the Gospel message more faithfully and forcibly delivered than before. Perhaps He leads him away from worldly acquaintance, and gives him new friends of a better sort, who love God and seek to do good. Perhaps He tries him with affliction, disappoints his worldly plans, lays him on a sick-bed, sends death into his family. Meanwhile conscience speaks within, thoughts arise in the heart, the Spirit strives there. Thus the Lord Jesus deals with the soul for whom He has pleaded.

"If it bear fruit, well!" If he who was so long unprofitable, begin now to serve God; if the conscience be awakened and the heart changed; if he be brought to know himself a sinner, and to believe in Jesus as his Saviour; if thus he become "a new creature in Christ Jesus," and

begin thenceforth to live to God; then it is well indeed. Angels rejoice, glory is brought to God, another useful member is added to the Church on earth, a soul is saved!

But if not. Ah, how sad an if" is this! We do not know the end of the fig-tree. The parable leaves off at this point, "if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." We are not told whether it bore fruit, and was suffered to stand, or was unfruitful still, and was cut down at the end of the year. This seems to make the parable apply with peculiar force to those who are even now being dealt with as the fig-tree was to be dealt with during that year.

It may be that you have been unfruitful hitherto, and that now God is dealing with you in some new way. Are you in trouble of any kind? Has sorrow visited you? Has your health failed? Has sickness fallen upon you? Are you laid aside? May not the reason be that the Lord Jesus has pleaded for you that you might have more time, and that now He is dealing with you as the dresser of the vineyard was to deal with the fig-tree? If so, how gracious is He in this very affliction! It is for your soul's good. It is to

I

humble you, to soften you, to teach you your need, and to lead you to your Saviour. It is to take you off from a sinful, worldly, careless, unprofitable life, and to bring you into the happy life of a servant of God. It is through mercy and love, that this very time is yours. It is because Jesus pleaded for you; "Let it alone this year also."

Yet how solemn a time is it! Perhaps the last season of opportunity for turning to God; the time that has been added on; the one year more. Nay, not a year perhaps, in your case. The fig-tree had a year, but you may have much less. But at least to-day is yours. God has given it to you. To-day you may seek Him; to-day you may pray, and He will hear; to-day the door is open. Ah, let not slip so precious a season! Let not slip one day! All may yet be well, if you will turn to God with all your heart, and seek mercy through the blood of Jesus, and begin to live to God. Let there be no "If" in your case; no "If not." Let the great question be settled at once. Do not delay. Seek your Saviour now. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

195

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE FEAR OF DEATH.

HEBREWS II. 14, 15.

14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage.

It is a solemn thing to die. Yet a Christian need not fear death. For Jesus Christ has taken away its sting. "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to