are the objections urged by infidels against the truth of our holy religion".]
Respecting the prophetical meaning of the miracle all are agreed —
[The Jews had enjoyed every advantage of care and cul- ture ; yet they constantly disappointed the expectations of their God. They professed themselves indeed to be his peculiar people ; but they brought forth no fruit that was suited to that relation. Now therefore God had determined to abandon them to judicial impenitence^ andi utter desolation. The speedy effect, which followed from our Lord's denunciation against the fig-tree, intimated the near approach both of the spiritual and temporal judgments which were coming on the Jews. And the event answered the prediction. It was hut four days before they filled up the measure of their iniquities by crucify- ing the Lord of glory ; and but forty years before the temple and city were finally destroyed. Thus was the fig-tree made a warning to the Jewish nation ; and a salutary emblem would it have been, if they had regarded it as they ought.]
Having explained all which is necessary to a just understanding of the miracle, we shall,
IL Consider the declarations founded upon it —
The former of these relates to his own more im- mediate disciples —
[Being now soon to leave the world, our Lord was stu- dious to support and comfort his disciples. And the surprise which they expressed at the speedy destruction of the fig-tree, too clearly manifested their low thoughts of his power, and consequently their need of having their faith in him increased. On this account, as it should seem, he made a less obvious improvement of the miracle than he might otherwise have done ; and turned that into a ground of comfort, which would more naturally have aflforded an occasion of solemn admonition. The disciples, like himself, were to work miracles in confirma- tion of their word ; and greater works than this were to be performed by them. He tells them therefore to exercise faith in God, and to proceed to the performing of the greatest miracles with the most assured confidence, that the effects
■= If the words, " And when he came to it he found nothing but leaves," Mark xi. 13. be included in a parenthesis, the sense of the whole will appear at once. The very same writer has expressed him- self on another occasion precisely in a similar manner, chap. xvi. 3, 4. Inclose the former part of ver. 4. in a parenthesis, and the true meaning of the passage becomes obvious.