of time, or even as nothing, in comparison of eternity: a scheme, whatever may be the kind or degree of the blessings, reserved for the enjoyment of the good and faithful during its existence-however exquisite while they lasthowever incommensurate to any thing that can be conceived or enjoyed upon earth, as at present constituted— yet immeasurably below the bliss of heaven, and absolutely incapable of comparison with the transaction of an immortality of happiness through all eternity. Moreover the same good qualities—the same faith, the same piety, the same holiness, patience, and perseverance-which are necessary for each Christian's enjoyment, in his due proportion, of the millennary reward, are equally essential to the inheritance of the blessedness of eternity in heaven; and the absence of such personal good qualities as would be the means of exclusion from the former, will infallibly exclude from the latter also. How unreasonable therefore must it be, to allow a difference of opinion upon this point, to interfere with the mutual charity and good understanding which should naturally subsist among Christians who agreed, in every other respect, to believe and to act alike!. how much to be regretted, that there should be any among the professors of a common faith, who would not give the right hand of fellowship to such as did not concur with them in this article of their belief; or others, who, in their turn, would not say God speed, to such of their brethren as entertained it. How much better, that while we each of us strive, by the aid of God's grace in conjunction with our own weak, but sincere and unremitting endeavours, to make our own calling and election sure-and thereby to secure our individual share in the benefit of every dispensation of good, whether in time or for eternity, which the divine bounty may yet have in store for them that love God, and trust for every thing to his mercy, through Jesus Christ their Lord-we should allow to others the same liberty and independence of opinion, which we claim for ourselves; and while we harmonize together upon the essential points of a saving faith and a salutary practice, that with reference to such questions as these, we should say with Jerome, Unusquisque abundet in sensu suo, et cuncta Domini judicio reserventur. As to the author of the following work-if he has fallen into any material error, either upon this point, or upon any other on which he has ventured to express an opinion of his own-God is his record, that it has been unintentionally, and while humbly endeavouring to see his way, and to arrive at a knowledge of the truth, by the light of God's word, and by the aid of the other means and opportunities which the Divine providence had bestowed upon him. In a word, to whatever extent the ensuing pages are calculated to mislead their readers-let the blame of all, and the demerit of all, be set down to the account of human ignorance and human infirmity to whatever degree they may conduce to promote the great ends of scriptural truth, let their readers concur as heartily as their author, to ascribe the praise and glory of all, to the true source of the benefit and advantage redounding from all, the Father of lights and the Giver of every good gift, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The editions of the several works referred to in the course of this volume, or of the ensuing ones, will be found specified at the end of the fifth volume. On the distinction of the members, or component parts of the CHAP. IX. СНАР. Х. CHAP. XI. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. On the number, and the names, of the parables. IN pursuance of my design, which is the exposition of the parables, I shall lay before the reader a statement of all those parts of our Saviour's discourses, to which I consider the name of parables to be properly applicable, and of which only he will find any explanation in the course of the ensuing work. The following Table or Synopsis will shew their numerical amount, their respective denominations, the times when and the places where they were delivered, as far as these admit of being determined; and the evangelists, whether one or more, by whom I they are recorded. For the verification of these particulars, I am spared the necessity of any lengthened discussion, by having it in my power to refer to my "Harmonia Evangelica" or Harmony of the Gospels; and the Dissertations on the principles and arrangement of such a work, which were published as an accompaniment to it. To this work I shall take the liberty of referring, as often as I find occasion to assume the truth of the conclusions which I there endeavoured to establish. |