Luke xiii. 80. Behold, there are last which shall be first ; and there are first which shall be last.
THIS is a declaration frequently made by our blessed Lord ; and therefore we may be sure it con- tains some very important truths, that deserve our deepest attention. Persons who are addicted to human systems will put an exceedingly different con- struction upon these words; some pressing them to an unwarrantable extent ; whilst others limit them, so as to enervate and destroy all their force. We, however, desire to treat them, not in a proud and controversial spirit, but in a spirit of humility and love ; equally avoiding both extremes, and endeavour- ing to deduce from them such practical instruction as our Lord himself intended them to convey. With this view, I will,
I. Shew to what an extent they have been realized — That God acts as a Sovereign in the communica- tion of good, we have no doubt ; but not so in the distribution of evil : and therefore, whilst we see in this passage a clear evidence of electing love, we cannot for a moment admit that there is any ground for the doctrine of absolute reprobation. If the last are made first, it is by the grace of God : but if the first are made last, it is altogether by their own fault. This will appear in every part of the subject; whilst I shew, that the truth here conveyed has been realized in all ages, and is yet daily realized amongst men, in whatever light they be viewed. View them,
1. In their national privileges — [The Jews were God's peculiar people. Never did any nation under heaven enjoy such privileges as they. They, for the space of two thousand years, were " the first" in every thing that related to eternal life. As for the poor benighted Gentiles, they were left in darkness and the shadow of death, given over to follow their own evil ways, ancLto be led captive