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destroyed, either by the sword, or famine, but that, for the elect's sake, these days were shortened;" the besieged, by their internal divisions, and mutual slaughters, and by deserting their strongholds, assisting the capture of the city, which could not otherwise have been effected, except after a very long period of time'.

This prophecy of our blessed Lord refers, in its primary acceptation, unquestionably to the destruction of Jerusalem; but it must be remembered, that the question the disciples made to Him at this time referred beyond this limit, and distinctly embraced an inquiry as to

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the sign of the end of the world." It will be observed, therefore, that the forms of expression, and the images employed, are, for the most part, applicable also to the day of judgment; and that an allusion to that great event runs through almost every part of the prophecy. It is by no means uncommon, in the prophetical writings, that two subjects, a principal and a subordinate one, should be carried on together. In this manner, our Saviour here seems to hold out the destruction of Jerusalem, which is His principal subject, as a type of the dissolution of the world, which is the under-part of the representation. This general remark is a key to the whole prophecy, and will afford an easy Bishop Newton.

2

solution to the several difficulties that occur in it 3. "Learn a parable of the fig-tree," says our Lord. The approach of summer is not more surely indicated by the first appearance of spring, than the final destruction of the wicked, by the beginnings of vengeance on this impenitent people. The opening of the vernal blossom is the first step of a natural process which necessarily terminates in the ripening of the summer fruits; and the rejection of the Jews, and the adoption of the believing Gentiles, is a first step in the execution of a general plan of Providence, which will end in the general judgment. The moral of the prophecy, the practical application of it, is this: that, as the precise time when these things shall come to pass no one knoweth, not even "the angels which are in heaven, neither the Father only," "watch therefore for ye know not at what hour your Lord doth come;" "and what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." The concluding admonition, in direct terms, alludes no less to His immediate hearers, than to His disciples in all ages; no less to the final judgment, than to the destruction of Jerusalem and applies with at least equal force to both ". There can be no doubt that He means by these declarations to remind every

Son, but the

man that his particular doom is near; for, whatever may be the season appointed in the secret councils of God for that great and terrible day, when the heavens and the earth shall flee from the face of Him, who shall be exalted on the throne, and their place shall no where be found; whatever may be the destined time of this public catastrophe, the end of the world, with respect to every individual, takes place at the conclusion of his own life. In the grave there will be no repentance; no virtues can be acquired; no evil habits thrown off. With the character, whether of virtue, or of vice, with which a man leaves the world, with that he must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. In this sense, to every one here upon earth, "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; the Judge standeth before the door "."

The Son of man will come again; but not as in the days of His humiliation: and, in order to call our attention to the certainty and suddenness of His coming, Jesus calls attention to that great event, and of the necessity of being always prepared for it, by two parables, the moral of both of which is, Watch.

SECT. CXXXV.-Christ teacheth, by a Parable, to Watch.Matt. xxiv. 42-51; Mark xiii. 32-37; Luke xxi. 36.

THE first parable was that of a “man taking a journey into a far country, who gave authority

to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch." "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing." "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or at the morning." 'The Lord of

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that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.'

SECT. CXXXVI.-Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Matt. xxv. 1—13.

In the second parable, ten virgins are described as attending at the celebration of a marriage, and preparing to meet the bridegroom, that they may conduct his bride by the light of their lamps, according to the ancient custom of nuptials in the East. "Five of these virgins were wise, and five were foolish;" so that they all took their lamps, as if they were properly prepared to attend upon the bridegroom: the wise only had supplied themselves with oil. Through the delay of the bridegroom's arrival, the painfulness of watching overcame them all, and they fell asleep. Suddenly the approach of the bridegroom is announced at midnight, and the virgins arose "to meet him;" but the foolish ones discovered, too late, the consequence of their own careDr. Lightfoot.

lessness, and would have asked a supply of oil from the wise, who had only what was prepared for themselves; but, "the wise answered,

Not so, but go and buy for yourselves:" and,

whilst they were gone forth to purchase, the bridegroom came, and " the door was shut," upon the marriage-feast. The foolish now return, and entreat to be admitted, but are rejected with disdain. The Lord "answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not "." In this parable the characters of persons are described who have enjoyed the outward dispensation of the Gospel: some have a fair light in their hands, the principles of Divine life in their hearts, a stock of oil to keep that light burning both pure and clear; but others have only the blaze of a profession, and nothing to keep it alive, ending in smoke and darkness, when they have most occasion for it. Our Lord, therefore, teaches us that the good works of others shall stand us in no stead at the day of judgment'.

SECT. CXXXVII.-Christ describes the Last Judgment.Matt. xxv. 31-46.

JESUS now relinquishes all further speech in parables, and proceeds to describe His future advent, and the manner in which the last judgment will be conducted. The Evangelist de1 Dr. Macknight.

"Dr. Robinson.