abundantly manifest. It is incumbent therefore on every one to ask himself, What reason have I to think that this " kingdom of God is within me^?" What change has it wrought, what assimilating and transforming efficacy has it discovered ? There is, it is true, a leaven in the heart of natural men ; but it is either a " leaven of malice and wickedness"^," or a " leaven of hypocrisy":" whichever of these it be, it must be "purged out, that they may become a new lump°." Their souls must be impregnated with a very different leaven, even that of grace and truth. Let us then " hide the word of God within us," that by its influence we may be renewed p. Let our prayer be, Lord, " sanctify me through thy truth i." And " may the very God of peace sanctify us wholly, that thus our whole body, soul and spirit, may be preserved blameless unto his heavenly kingdom''!"]
1 Luke xvii. 21. '"1 Cor. v. 8. " Luke xii. 1.
0 1 Cor. v. 7. 1' Ps. cxix. 11. i John xvii, 17.
■^ 1 Thess. V. 23.
Matt. xiii. S6. His disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
THERE is much in the Holy Scriptures which unenlightened reason cannot comprehend. Hence the proud and self-sufficient continue ignorant of many truths. But they who seek Divine teaching have more enlarged views. God can " reveal to babes what he hides from the wise and prudent." Nor will he leave any in darkness who pray for his Spirit. The Apostles set us an example worthy of our imitation. Our Lord delivered many parables which none clearly understood. But while the Scribes and Pharisees stumbled at them, the more teachable Apostles en- treated their Lord to explain their import. Both the parable of the tares and the explanation of it are contained in this chapter ^
To elucidate it more fully, we observe, that the members of Christ's visible Church resemble wheat and tares growing together ;
a ver. 24—30. and 37—43.