of the Lord in the land of Israel, was about to be taken from its unfaithful tenants. Jerusalem was to be des- troyed. The temple was to be burned. The Jews were to be scattered over the earth. — ^At the present time, it may be feared, it is a mournful picture of things yet to come on the Gentile churches in the latter days. The judgments of God will yet fall on unbelieving Christians, as they fell on unbelieving Jews. The solemn warning of St. Paul to the Romans will yet receive an ac- complishment : " If thou continuest not in God's good- ness, thou also shalt be cut off." (Eom. xi. 22.)
We must never flatter ourselves that God cannot be angry. He is indeed a God of infinite grace and com- passion. But it is also written, that He is " a consuming fire." (Heb. xii. 29.) His Spirit will not always strive with men. (Gen. vi. 3.) There will be a day when His patience will come to an end, and when He will arise to judge terribly the earth. Happy will they be who are found hid in the ark in the day of the Lord's anger ! Of all wrath, none can be conceived so awful as *' the wrath of the Lamb." The man on whom the " stone cut out without hands " falls at His second coming, will indeed be crushed to powder. (Dan. ii. 34, 35.)
Do we know these things, and do we live up to our knowledge ? The chief priests and elders, we are told, " perceived that this parable was spoken against them." But they were too proud to repent, and too hardened to turn from their sins. Let us beware of doing likewise.
Notes. Luke XX. 9 — 19. 10. — [Speak to.., people,,, parable.] Let it be noted, that our Lord