31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then

b c.8.12. c Da.7.13. Zec.14.5. c.16.27; 19.28. Mar. 8.38. Ac.1.11. 1Th.4.16. 2Th.1.7. Jude 14. Re.1.7.

of the faithful, to which they are admitted, as to an entertainment while outside, all is utter darkness -sin and misery.

The parable of the virgins and this of the talents would seem to meet two different but common cases in the church among professed disciples. The foolish virgins were over bold and presumptuous. This one-talent-man, was suspicious and backward. The former counted the service easy and themselves safe; within reach of full The latter preparation at any time. regarded the Master as one not able to be pleased. The former represent a class that need to be urged and plied by the alarming motives. Strait is the gate (ch. 7. 14). Let a man deny himself (16. 24). The latter represents such as need the spirit of adoption, instead of that other spirit of bondage. Rom. 8. 15. Heb. 12. 18, 22, 24.

OBSERVE, (1.) We are to work for Christ as well as to wait for Him. (2.) Christians have very different talents entrusted to them for His service. Some have very many endowments and opportunities and means-others have very few. (3.) Those of moderate means and powers are the great majority, and it is of utmost consequence that such feel their high responsibility, and that every one be brought into active and faithful service. This would give prosperity to the churches. (4.) The joy of our Lord, is our common inheritance. "If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him." There is fellowship of service here-and partnership of glory hereafter. (5.) Mistaken views of God are at the bottom of unfaithfulness in the church.

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd £ divideth his sheep from the goats:

f

d Ro.14.10. 2Cor 5.10. Re.20.12. e Eze.20.38. c. 13.49. Ps.78.52. Jno.10.14,27.

Chiefly the legal spirit—the spirit of bondage and a lack of the spirit of adoption-which fails to apprehend the grace of the gospel, leads to a hiding and burying of the talent. Such are the inactive, backward, and slothful servants. (6.) God claims an improvement of what we have received. The slothful will be cast off: to others He gives the increase.

◊ 130. SCENES OF THE JUDGMENT DAY. THIRD day of the week.

31. When the Son of man. the parables in regard to final retribution, He now passes to describe the judgment day-the scenes-the parties. The Son of man is Christ. This is a title which Christ generally applies to Himself, and it expresses His glorious Humanity-the mystery

of His Divine and Human natures. It occurs often in connexion with something that expresses His proper Divinity. So here, "in His glory, in His proper authority and majesty as Governor of the universe and Judge of all. To Him is given “the authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of man" (Jno. 5. 27). This authority as Mediator, is the throne of His glory. This makes Him the proper Judge.- ¶ The holy angels, as distinguished from fallen angels (Jude 6), are attendants of His majesty. T ́All nations. All mankind every where, that have ever lived. John 5. 28, 29. The Jews had a notion that the Gentiles would form no part in the resurrection. must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body"

"For we

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom

35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger, m and ye took me in:

g He.1.3. h Ps. 115.15. i Ro. 8.17. 1Pe. 1.4. j ÏTh.2.12. Re.5.10. k 1Cor.2.9. He.11.16.

(2 Cor. 5. 10). "He hath appointed à day in which He will judge THE WORLD." We shall be there at that day. Separate them. ¶ This He will do, because they are of different characters-as the sheep in a flock are different from the goals-and are divided on that account. This is an allusion to the practice of shepherds in early times, to keep the sheep and the goats in different flocks. By the sheep, are meant true Christians. Christ calls Himself the Shepherd, | and He has a flock. "He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." John 10. 3. By the goats are meant the wicked. He will know the characters of each, because He is the searcher of hearts. Wicked children shall be separated from their pious parents on that day, and so they shall remain apart for ever.

33. On His right hand. This denotes the favour and protection of the Sovereign and Judge. (Psalm 110. 1.) "Sit thou at my right hand." Only those who are followers of Christ shall be set there. The goats or wicked shall be placed on the left hand, which denotes the place of rejection and condemnation.

34. The King. This refers them back to the Parables, where in the character of King He had set forth Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ is King of Kings (Rev. 19. 16. Psalm 2. 6). He must be God, as well as man. The righteous are called "blessed of the Father," as chosen and called from eternity, and given to Him by the Father (John 17. 6), and now approved by Him, and ad

unto me.

7 Is.58.7. Eze.18.7. m 1Pe.4.9. 3Jno.5. n Ja.2 15,16. o Ja.1.27. p 2Ti.1.16. He.13.2.

ac

mitted to glory. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Salvation is all of grace.- -T Inherit the kingdom. This is to take possession of it, as heirs take possession of their estate. -¶ Prepared for you. It was made ready long beforehand. It was provided for them and intended to be theirs. It did not come to them of chance or of their own superior goodness-or of their sovereign will-but of God's free choice, cording to the election of grace." (Rom. 8. 29-30. 1 Pet. 1. 2.) And this was ordained in God's gracious purposes. ¶ From the foundation j the world—that is, from all eternity. Comp. Ephes. 1. 4, 5. This points back before the world was, to a founder, builder, designer of it. The same God wrought their salvation. This shows that on God's part their salvation is all of grace. No man deserves it--none can have any claim—and if He has chosen to save some, and so has sent Christ into the world, none can complain, for it is a free gift-and He can do what He will with His own (Matt. 20. 15). Besides, while it is of free grace on God's part, it is shown to be according to their works. Without holiness no man shall see God. These acts of charity and friendship were in great estimation among the Jews, though confined to their kin.

35. For I was an hungered, &c. They had a tender regard for Him, and for His cause, and improved the means and talents entrusted them. Favours shown to His people He regards, and will reward as fa

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer

vours shown to Himself. "These my brethren," He calls them (vs. 40). Christ and His children are one.

(John 17. 21.) "Pure religion and undefiled is this." James 1. 27.

36. Naked-—that is, badly clothed. -T Ye visited more literally, looked after.

37. Then shall the righteous. They were only amazed at such a notice of their meanest services. They could not have thought that small favours shown to the obscurest Christian would be mentioned at the judgment to their praise. They could not have thought that Christ would consider it as done to Himself in person. The true Christian is always humble, and feels himself unworthy of God's favours. God will praise him, where he would be silent.

40. The least of these my brethren. | The most insignificant of His followers are His brethren (Mark 3. 35), because they do His will, and are His brethren also in tribulation. To do a kindness to His disciples is to do it to Him, because they are one with Him (Matt. 10. 42). So with injuries. Saul persecuted Him thus. (Acts 9.4.) We should help the hungry, and thirsty, and stranger-we should attend and supply the naked and sick and imprisoned, as we are able. And especially should we regard the wants of Christians in distress, for we are to" do good to all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6. 10). These things can be done for Christ's sake—that is,

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

t

42 For I was an hungered, and

q Pr.19.17. Mar.9.41. He.6.10. r Lu.13.27. 8 c. 13.40,42. Re.14.11. t Jude 6. Re.20.10.

out of hearty love to Him, and a desire to do good to others because they are His-or because He requires it. Kindness to the poor is not always a sign of grace in the heart. To please Christ it must have His will and His service for the motive, for without faith, it is impossible to please Him." (Heb. 11. 6.)

41. Depart from me-that is, from the presence and favour of Christ. They are cursed—that is, condemned, and not acquitted, nor blessed. They must dwell, that is, have their home, in everlasting fire. This torment was prepared, that is, made ready beforehand, for the devil and his angels

that is, for fallen spirits, and all the wicked who are "the children of the evil one." (Jude 6. Rev. 12. 8, 9.) The wicked must dwell with all the apostate and vile beings in the universe, and their torment must be indescribably awful. It must be real and inevitable, for the devils are already under the condemnation. And it must be eternal. It is expressly said to be everlasting. “Gather not my soul with sinners." (Ps. 26. 9.) Fire was the common image of punishment to the Jews, expressing severest suffering with all that is loathsome and outcast-as in the valley of Hinnom. Nole-Matt. 5. 22. The fulness of the idea cannot be given in language-and it cannot be found out any more than "the worm that never dies." Isa. 66. 24. ¶ Prepared for the devil, &c. Some have argued hence that it was not prepared for