lilæans and the fall of the tower in Siloam give occasion to a general warning, that impenitent sinners, of whatever party or nation, would finally perish with a similar destruction".

Thus whether abroad or at home a vehicle for instruction was always at hand. The return of the seasons of corn or fruit reminded him of the fields white already for the spiritual harvest, and of the criterion by which the true nature of principles might be ascertained

By their fruits ye shall know them.' The accidental circumstance of the disciples forgetting to take bread with them in one of their journeyings, introduced a warning to 'beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' And as he was at table in the house of a Pharisee, when one who sat at meat with him remarked, probably without any spiritual ideas of a future state, on the blessedness of those who should eat bread in the kingdom of heaven, our Lord seizes the moment to deliver a parable signifying the plentiful provision made

14.

7 John, vi. 32. xiv. 3-6, xv. 1. Luke, xiv. 12.

xiii. 1-5.

Messiah, or in a more extended sense in allusion to Christ's final descent from his mediatorial throne to execute justice on the wicked. The propriety of the moral, therefore, is independent of any temporary interest; but to those who were familiar with the recent circumstances which suggested what may be called the story of the parable, it would be invested with a peculiar beauty from their coincidence with historical events which would naturally form a prominent subject of conversation among them in consequence of their jealousy of the Roman yoke.

II. In the passages hitherto considered, the figurative language of Christ seems to have been principally derived from the natural objects which incidentally presented themselves to his view, and whether we examine its effect in rendering the spirit of his doctrines more intelligible to the comprehension of his followers, or in imprinting them more permanently on their memories by the local associations which would be created, the wisdom of the selection cannot be questioned. Some passages shall now be ad

duced, the context of which will show that our Lord was equally solicitous to address himself with allusion to the peculiar character or circumstances of his hearers.

An early instance of this judicious practice occurs in the case of Nicodemus. This ruler of the Jews had come to Jesus privately under cover of the night; and though our Lord would not reprove severely this sign of weakness in his new convert, yet in the conversation which ensued, he glances at his timidity, and reminds him that the preferring of darkness to light is the ground of the condemnation of infidels. 'For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God".'

In the same manner, with reference to the miracle which he had previously wrought on the

2 John, iii. 20, 21.

S

man who was born blind, he illustrates the design of his mission by a metaphor derived from the subject. As by his efficacious touch the faculty of seeing was restored to the blind eyes, so were the spiritually blind to be delivered by faith in his doctrine from their benighted condition, and enabled to discern the true light which had at length shined in darkness. The same figure further served to condemn the wilful blindness of the Pharisees, whose eyes should be judicially closed as a punishment for their obduracy. For judgement I am come into this world, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might see might be made

blind 3.'

The affectionate reproof conveyed to Martha in that significant sentence- one thing is needful' also carried with it a seasonable allusion to the inexpediency of her being cumbered with much serving, while it recommended the adoption of the same good part which her sister had already chosen. Afterwards, when our Lord

3 John, ix. 39

♦ Luke, x. 41, 42.

met her at Bethany on the occasion of the death of her brother, he turns that event to profit, by leading her mind from reflecting on the temporary decease and resuscitation of Lazarus, to comprehend the mystery of his own character as the resurrection and the life. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 5. Our Lord then appeals to her with a direct inquiry, in a manner unusual with him-Believest thou this?'-and the explicit confession of faith which followed shewed the immediate conviction which had attended his seasonable exposition of so difficult a doctrine. It is further remarkable, that in the very next verse, the strongest instance occurs which the Gospels furnish of the term teacher, applied as a title of Christ. When she had so said, she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, the master

5 John, xi. 25, 26.