was "full of good works and alms deeds which she did," so that her death was the cause of general lamentation.R

It is the same in every age. As in the heavens above us there appear stars innumerable, and no two stars have the same precise size or the same brightness so amongst Christians; there are different natural capacities, and different degrees of grace: there is in some much, in others little zeal in some much, in others little self-denial: in some a perfect command over the evil passions, in others, a daily conflict, and sometimes an ineffectual conflict, against the remainder of sin. Some are hardly able to rise above the temporal things which draw them downwards. Others soar upward as on eagles' wings, and though still encompassed with the flesh, and dwelling here below, have" their conversation in heaven." But as the stars, though differing from one another in glory, have all some brightness: and as they all agree in this, that they are governed by the same laws, and obey the will of their Creator: so it is, and must be, with all those who receive the word: they set before them as the rule of life the precepts of their heavenly Father: they endeavour to bear fruit unto holiness:" they all have "the testimony of their conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity," according to the will of God, and not according to the course of this world, they have desired to walk before God in righteousness. this they know ;-there can be no other proof that they have understood, and received, and kept the word, except that they bring forth fruit, whether it be thirty, or sixty, or an hundred fold.

8 Acts ix. 36-39.

For

LECTURE XXVI.

THE NEED OF ZEAL AND FAITHFULNESS.

MARK iv. 21-25.

21. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick?

22. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

These words were designed to excite the attention of the apostles to the parables which our Lord was now uttering, more of which are preserved in the corresponding chapter of St. Matthew, than Mark has here repeated. 1 He warns them to use all their faculties; for they would be called into exercise hereafter. They were not to suppose, that because he spoke these things to them in private, they were always to be spoken privately. On the contrary, there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. It would be unreasonable first to light a lamp, and then conceal it where it could benefit no one. Yet such would be the case, unless provision were made

1 See Matt. xiii. 24-33.

that what is now

66 secret known and come abroad." 2

should hereafter "be

Much was now spoken in parables. Much relating to the kingdom of heaven could not now be understood, and was hid from the world. Those who now surrounded our Lord, were appointed to the duty of making manifest what prophets and righteous men had desired to see, and had not seen, and to hear, and had not heard.

Thus he demands their ATTENTION: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But he further demands their FAITHFULNESS. The proverb should apply to them, which deals with men according as they deal with others; measures out to them, as they have measured: so that they who have dealt sparingly, receive also sparingly; and they receive plenteously who have dealt out plenteously. This should be the rule, in regard to their knowledge and spiritual gifts. To those that hear, should more be given. To those who should take heed what they hear, in order that having received it into their own hearts, they may communicate the same to others, and so fulfil the work appointed them; to those should more be given. The Lord had " many things to say to them," which at present they "could not hear." 3 "He spake the word unto them, as they were able to hear it." By degrees they should know all parables." But they must be zealous and faithful to the charge entrusted to them. As there was a reward to the diligent and attentive, he should have more abundance ;—so there was a penalty to the careless and slothful;

Luke viii. 17. 3 John xvi. 12.

4

See verse, 33.

K

that which he seemeth to have" should be taken

away."

24. And he saith unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you : and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

It is a common saying in ordinary life, He that is rich, shall be richer, and he that is poor, shall be poorer. And we can understand how this often happens in the course of human affairs. Here, however, it seems to be laid down as part of the providence of God; as his rule in dealing with man. And at first sight, it might appear that the rule ought rather to be reversed; that the talent should be taken from him that hath abundance, and given to him that hath not.

6

All depends upon the cause of the poverty. If a man were poor through misfortune, to take from him his remaining substance would be cruel and unjust. It would be to act the part of the rich man in the prophet Nathan's parable, who "spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, for the traveller who had come unto him, but took the one ewe lamb of the poor man which he had bought and nourished up." This is not the way of "the judge of all the earth" of Him who must "do right." "

But suppose the case of the prodigal, who when come to age, gathered all together, and left his father's house, and "went into a far country, and

5 Luke viii. 19.

62 Sam. xii. 1—4.

7 Gen. xviii. 25.

there wasted his substance in riotous living." At last "there came a mighty famine in the land" to which he had betaken himself, and "he began to be in want." Is he entitled to a fresh fortune, which he may again dissipate in sinful revelry? Shall additional talents be supplied him, now that he has proved himself so unworthy of his advantages?

The Jewish people had been such prodigals, and were now suffering the consequences. They were spiritually poor, because they had wasted their wealth. They were in darkness, because they closed their eyes against the light. They were ignorant, because they were unwilling to know the truth. Therefore the proverb was fulfilled in them: He that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

The Lord warns those who were "about him with the twelve," that such was the law of God's providence towards men, and would be the rule with them as with others. So that they must take heed what they hear, that more might be given them: as to a "faithful and wise steward," whom experience has proved to be worthy of such confidence. Like Joseph, for example, who so zealously served his master that instead of treating him as a slave, he "made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand." Still further, proceeding in his fidelity, he was "set over all the land of Egypt," second to the king alone.1 Whereas upon. master's goods,

the unjust steward, who wastes his

the sentence is pronounced, "Give an account of

8 Luke xv. 13.

Ib. xli. 40, 41.

9

Gen. xxxix. 4.