vineyard, lie has a right to expect fruit. But Israel rendered not a due return for all God's mercies. They mingled with the heathen, and learned their works. They hardened themselves in sin and unbelief. They turned aside after idols. They kept not God's ordinances. They despised God's temple. They refused to listen to His prophets. They ill-used those whom he sent to call them to repentance. And finally they brought their wickedness to a height, by killing the Son of God Him- self, even Christ the Lord.
And what are we doing ourselves with our privileges ? Truly that is a serious question, and one that ought to make us think. It may well be feared, that we are not, as a nation, living up to our light, or walking worthy of our many mercies. Must we not confess with shame, that millions amongst us seem utterly without God in the world ? Must we not acknowledge, that in many a town, and in many a village, Christ seems hardly to have any disciple, and the Bible seems hardly to be beheved ? It is vain to shut our eyes to these facts. The fruit that the Lord receives from His vineyard in Great Britain, compared with what it ought to be, is disgracefully small. It may well be doubted whether we are not as provoking to Him as the Jews.
We see, in the next place, tvJiat an awful reckoning God sometimes has loith nations and churches, ivhich make a bad use of their privileges.
A time came when the long- suffering of God towards the Jews had an end. Forty years after our Lord's death, the cup of their iniquity was at length full, and they received a heavy chastisement for their many sins. Their