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be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

The man 66 that hath not," is he, who does not use and improve what he hath, to the end for which it was given. As keeping money always locked up in a chest, is the same as not having it.

27. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

We see who are Christ's enemies. There is no middle way. If we do not take him unfeignedly for our Lord and King to reign over us, he knows we are enemies to him in our hearts. Such he will command to be slain, to be cast into the lake of fire, and given up for ever to the second death.

SECTION LXV.

Chap. xix. ver. 28-48.

CHRIST RIDETH INTO JERUSALEM; AND CLEANSES THE

TEMPLE.

28. And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

This should not pass unobserved. He led the way, though he knew he was going to suffer the whole weight of God's vengeance for the sin of the world.

29. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage, and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30. Saying, Go ye into the village over against you: in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

31. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Though Jesus was Lord of all things, he would not have his disciples take the colt without leave.

32. And they that were sent, went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34. And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

They placed Jesus, the king of heaven and earth, upon a colt, the foal of an ass. The word Jesus is here emphatical. By choosing to enter into Jerusalem on an ass, he declared that his kingdom is not of this world. The triumph of Jesus is humility. He preached it in his birth, and he preached it to the last. It is a hard lesson; but so necessary, that he would stoop very low to teach it.

36. And as they went, they spread their clothes in the way. To do honour to him as their King.

37. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had seen;

We have now read an account of a great many of Christ's mighty works in the gospel, and all to this end, that we may praise God for his mighty work in us, and say as these persons did.

38. Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

This peace in heaven, is by the reconciliation of sinful man to God through Christ. O that our hearts were made to speak, and join their song of thanksgiving with the blessed angels, for this adorable manifestation of his great glory.

39. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude, said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

These were blind Pharisees! Jesus, however, knew best who they were who deserved the rebuke.

40. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if

these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry

out.

Can this be said of us, that we hold our peace? We have, it is true, the praise of Christ many a time upon our tongues; but if it begins and ends there, he regards it

not.

41. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

He thought not of himself, and his own sufferings. O these were speaking, convincing tears! Could he not then save them, if he would? No, he could not; they would not be saved. Everything had been done for them on God's part, and all he could do farther was to weep over them.

42. Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

of

This is written, that it may be a warning to every one

us, that we may know, that our destruction will be of ourselves, if we neglect the great salvation of God.

43. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side.

44. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

This is as exact and circumstantial a description of the siege and taking of Jerusalem, nearly forty years before the event took place, as if it had been made on the spot, and spoken after the event.

45. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, aud them that bought;

He was moved with holy zeal for the honour of the temple, and exerted his divine authority against its sacrilegious profaners. The instruction to us, is to bear a suitable re

verence to the place of God's worship; and, especially, not to bring our worldly thoughts into it.

46. Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Praying hearts would bring us constantly to the house appointed for the worship of God, through the mediation of his only-begotten Son; and keep us close to the business of it.

47. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

48. And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Let us hear him now. Let us hear his words in the Holy Scriptures :—let us hear him speaking to our hearts. This attention is life, happiness, and salvation.

SECTION LXVI.

Chap. xx. ver. 1—8.

CHRIST AVOUCHES HIS AUTHORITY.

1. And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

Jesus preached the gospel,-remission of sins, and peace with God; the way to it, by repentance, and faith; the way to keep it, by newness of life.

2. And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority ?

Jesus had told them this by his miracles over and over again; and his telling them in plain words would not have cured them of their blindness. What indeed will cure us, when we are resolved not to see?

3. And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me :

4. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

If their hearts would have suffered them to have given a right answer, it might have opened a way for them to the whole truth. We are not to suppose that this question was evasive, or only to escape the snare that was laid for him. He knew that he was within a very few days of his death, and had no thought of avoiding it. His design was to let in the light upon them, if they would have given way to it.

5. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

So men who are prejudiced against the truth, turn themselves into all shapes to avoid it. Though they are never so hard put to it, something or other they must pretend, to blind conscience, and keep off conviction.

6. But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

7. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

They would not please Christ with their answer, and durst not displease the people. They had not one grain of sincerity in them, and did not speak their minds either one way or another. He was as reserved with them, and showed that he could have nothing to do with such

men.

8. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

They were not worthy to know. He left them to themselves. It was a precious moment for them, and they lost it. How many such seasons do we lose?

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