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the deserts. What did they pretend they could there shew? Great Wonders. At what other time did these false prophets mislead the people? During the destruction of Jerusalem. In what part of the temple did they persuade them to stay? In the secret chambers.

Teacher.

It was wicked pride in the Jews which made them believe that their temple could save them, without their having worshipped (as they ought to have done) the God of that temple. If they had done that, they would have believed in our Saviour, and then, they would also have believed his prophecy, that Jerusalem would be destroyed; and have taken proper measures for their safety. All wicked unbelieving people will at last find themselves in the same dangers and difficulties as these Jews, who had trusted to the word of men, rather than to the word of God.

Questions.

What made the Jews believe that their temple would save them although they had not worshipped, as they ought to have done, the God of that temple? Wicked pride. If they had worshipped and loved God, would they not have believed in your Saviour? Yes. And if they had believed

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his prophecy respecting Jerusalem, what would they have taken? Proper measures for their safety.

Teacher.

It will be the same with you as with them.— If you worship and love God, and believe in His word, as revealed in the Bible, He will bless your going out, and your coming in; but if as you grow up you neglect His worship, and pay no attention to your Bible, and His word, therein revealed; be assured that His vengeance will find you out, even "in the secret chambers.'

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Septuagesima Sunday,

ST. MATTHEW, xx. 1.

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way."

Teacher.

By this parable we learn, that as an householder hires labourers into his vineyard, so God

Almighty calls mankind into covenant with him: promising, that if they will perform the work he requires, that is, keep His laws, by living as good Christians ought to do, they shall have the wages of everlasting happiness in the kingdom of heaAnd this is an offer of entire goodness on his part. Our obedience is of no benefit or advantage to Him, except the delight he takes in the goodness and happiness of all rational creatures.

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Questions.

Who calls all mankind into covenant with him ; as an householder hireth labourers into his vineyard? God Almighty. What does he promise if we perform the work he requires of us, that is, if we live as becomes good Christians? Everlasting happiness in the kingdom of heaven. Is not this an offer of entire goodness on his part? Yes. Is our obedience of any benefit or advantage to him? No. Yet as it gives pleasure to every good and benevolent person to see others doing their duty and thereby securing their eternal happiness, may we not suppose that God Almighty delights in theobedience of his rational creatures? Yes.

Teacher.

The design of this parable was, to prevent our Lord's first disciples from feeling jealous of others

being rewarded in the same manner as themselves, although their labours were of shorter continuance. Those who were admitted at the eleventh hour, received every man a penny, as well as those who had borne the burden and heat of the day. God has a right to do what he pleases with His own; but let no one presume to put off repentance in the expectation of being received at the eleventh hour, which means when the best part of life is gone by. No person can be certain of living through a single day; and even if wicked people live to repent, it seems very unlikely that their happiness in heaven can equal that of long and obedient believers.

Questions.

Who has a right to do what he will with his own? God Almighty. Will it be safe to put off repentance to the eleventh hour, or, as we are to understand by that expression, until people are growing old? No. What can no one be certain of? Of living through a single day. Who are most likely to have the greatest happiness in heaven, those who have been obedient to God from their youth, or those who have lived in wickedness till a late repentance? Those who have been obedient from their youth.

Teacher.

Let me desire of you therefore to make a right use of this parable. You have been called in your infancy; that is you have had the blessing of christian baptism ;- You have entered into covenant with God Almighty from the very first dawn of your reason, and it must have been the fault of your parents, and of yourselves, if you do not know the duties required of you, who have been thus hired at an early and therefore the most valuable hour of the day, into your Master's vineyard.

Questions.

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When were you called to serve God? In our infancy. What blessings did you then receive? That of christian baptism. With whom have you entered into covenant from the first dawn of reason, or understanding? With God Almighty. Must it not have been principally your own fault, if you do not know the duties required of you? Yes.

Teacher.

These duties are binding upon the youngest of you. If you cannot at present do much good, you can at least refrain from what is evil. Your first duty is, to pray to God for his help in fulfil

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