Both of them have the same general tendency to guard men against a hasty and inconsiderate pro- fession of religion. But,
The former points out the jolly of such conduct —
[Every one sees, that a builder, who, through neglecting to count the cost, should be compelled to leave his structure unfinished, would be universally derided as a foolish man. But incomparably greater is his folly who begins to follow Christ, and afterwards by his apostasy shews, that he had never duly considered how much was requisite to make us Christians indeed. The very people who have turned him aside, will be the first to deride him for his instability ; and while they reverence him who maintains a firm and consistent conduct, they will despise in their hearts the man who proves unfaithful to his God. The saints indeed will not " mock him," because they know what a " fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God ;" but they will pity him, as a poor infatuated creature, who has " left off to behave him- self wisely," and reduced himself by his folly to the extremest misery. Nor is it long ere he himself will see his folly in its true light; when he will behold afar off that heaven upon which he turned his back, and inherit that portion which he so thoughtlessly preferred.]
The latter leads us rather to contemplate the danger of such conduct —
[A king who should inconsiderately plunge himself into a war with an enemy that was too powerful for him, would expose both his kingdom and his life to the most imminent danger. Thus it is also with a man who commences a warfare with sin and Satan without knowing how he shall make head against them: for as a hasty profession of religion exposes him to self-deception, so a hasty dereliction of it will subject him to the heavier condemnation. It is true that all must perish who do not enlist under the banner of Christ; but it is equally true, that cowardly soldiers, who forsake their standard, are far more guilty than if they had never been enrolled upon his list : " It is better never to have known the way of right- eousness, than, after having known it, to turn from it :" their end is worse than their beginning ; and they shall be punished with more stripes, in proportion to the advantages they have enjoyed, and the professions they have made.]
These parables will afford still further instruction, if we consider,
II. Our Lord's improvement of them —