The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 44

mixture has its chief importance in connection with the ultimate separation. There are two great classes in which are t.l be for ever included all other distinctions and diversities. All must pass through the hands of the Judge. By keeping God out of your thoughts now, you do not secure that you shall never think of him and that he ~hall never think of yolL And this is specially a parable of warning. The figure is carried out and applied only so far as it concerns the fate of the wicked. The an<rels sever the wicked from among the just, so that the just alone are left in the net. The fishermen have thrown the net for a purpose, and whatever is not suitable for this pur- pose is refuse and rubbish to them. And so it shall be in the end of the world. Men will then understand what now scarcely one can constantly believe, that it is God's purpose that is silently being accomplished, and that it is usefulness to him that is the final standard of valae. This will make a rapid separation among men. Have you those qualities which would serve to carry out such purposes as you know God's to be? Do you find now so much delight in doing his commandments, in living under his eye t bat you can believe that in the end he can make some use of you? Do not say, "i will not alarm myself by judging of my own qualities; I am trusting to Christ;" for precisely in so far as yon are trusting to Christ you have those qualities which God will require you to show. One other thing must be observed. The fish taken in the net are di~posed of by the fishermen; are in their hands as mere dead matter without choice or motion. This handling and disposing of by others is not more new to the fishes than it will be to us. Here in this world we are conscious of a power to choose and regulate our own destiny-a power to change and become something quite different from what we are. But there comes a time when whatever you are that you shall for ever be; when you must abide by your choice and take all its consequences. This parable, therefore, has a most significant hint for those who decline to accept Christ on these two grouud.s. 1. That they do not practically need his help; that they can do all that is required of them very well without him. 2. That they do not see in the lives of those who do believe in him any such superiority as to induce them to iollow their example and believe. But the difficulty now is for any serious and right- minded person to avoid accepting Christ's help. In order to do so a man would need to have been born outside of Christendom altogether. Besides, as regards conduct, can a man satisfy his conscience without Christ's help? He holds a relation to God as well as to man. and it is no apology for an unfilial attitude towards God to affirm that we fulfil all our duties to men. This parable reminds us that it is serviceableness which must determine our destiny in the future life; or, as God does not desire mere service, but the ddighted co-operation of sons, it is sonship which determines our destiny. And who but Christ enables us to see what sonsbip is, and to become sons? As to tho second reason, this parable not only admits, but makes much of the fact, that all that is within the net is by no means approved by God. But is not the kingdom as it ought to be worth striving for? Was the life of Christ misspent? and would it be a lamentable state of affairs on earth if his rule and spirit everywhere prevailed? The eternity that some are advancing towards, our Lord does not hesitate to describe as "a furnace of fire, where shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Surely the condition that is so sad as to occupy the sou.ls of those who are in it with eternal lamentation ought to occupy with some feelings the hearts of those who can give no reason why they shall not be there. It is not by some other and extraordinary way that you will evade what God warns you of, but only by the timeous use of what he has long ago told you, and what you ought long ago to have nsed.-D. Vere. 1-9.-The So~. Jesus had wrought many splendid miracles. Ile wa■ himBelf the greatest Wonder. It is not surprising that he should have been followed by crowds. For convenience in addressing the multitude on this occasion, he entered a boat, and stood out from the beach. As he was about to open his mouth in parables, perhaps this action was parabolic. The pious Quesnel remarks, "We see here a representation of the Church, which consists of people united with their pastors. These, being more exposed to violent tossing& and storms, are, as it were, in a •hip, while those continue at ease on the ,hore." Foremost among the parables uttered is that of the sower (see Mark iv. 13). It is afterwards interpret<:d. Let us view it- L As TO THE SOWING. Under this head we have: 1. The seed. (1) This is the ou. xm. 1-68.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. M.A.TTUEW. 45