A Roman penny was the usual wages, and was equal to about 74d. of English money. Were there servants sufficient for the work?

No. The householder went out again at the third, sixth, and ninth hours to hire more. Where did he find them?

In the market place, quite idle.

The day was now far spent, and many laborers were already engaged; but still it appears there were others left in the market idle: What was the cause of this?

No man had hired them.

Do attend to this answer. They were not unwilling to work, for so soon as they were invited they went-did they not?

Yes.

What generous promise was given to them? That whatsoever was right they should receive. There was still another hour. Were any told to go into the vineyard at the twelfth hour?

No. The day was then ended, and it was time to give each laborer his wages.

Were they rewarded in proportion to the time they had worked?

No. Each received a penny.

Were they all satisfied?

No. Those who had begun early expected they should receive more, when they saw a penny paid to the others.

Was this reasonable?

No. For they had agreed to work for that sum. How did "the good man" answer these murmurers?

C

He called them friends, though they had behaved so ill; and told them it was but right he should do as he wished with his own.

What is meant by the question he put to them, "Is thine eye evil because I am good?"

He seems to enquire with regret, why his kindness to others should excite in them feelings of envy and jealousy?

Our Lord concludes as He began this parable. "The last shall be first, and the first last:" but He adds the reason. What is it?

"For many are called, but few chosen."

You so well understand the nature of a parable that I am sure you perceive who is described under the character of a householder?

God.

And what is His vineyard?

His Church.

Who planted that vineyard, and who waters, and fences it around?

God. In Psalm lxxx. 15, David, speaking of the Church, calls it "The vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted." "The vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant.”—Isa. v. 7.

From whence are the laborers brought to the work?

From the market place, or the world.

Can you repeat a text where God commands His servants to separate themselves from the wicked practices and services of the world?

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the

unclean thing, and I will receive you.”—2 Cor. vi. 17. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." Pet. ii. 9.

In the parable it is said they were found idle in the market: How can the ever-active soul be called so?

I suppose it means, they were neglecting their proper work by serving a wrong master. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"-Rom. vi. 16.

There is one feature in the parable that can only apply to the Jews, who were the first to be called into covenant with God, and were envious that the same favor should be shewed to the Gentiles. Give me a few examples of this.

"When the Jews saw the multitudes (of Gentiles), they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming."--Acts xiii. 45. And even St. Peter required a vision, before he could believe that God had mercy for the Gentiles. "Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." -Acts x. 9--35.

Our Saviour in the parable of the Two Sons (St. Matthew xxi. 28--32,) led the Jews not only

to see and condemn their own conduct in disregarding God's distinguishing grace in calling them first into His service, but likewise, to approve His justice in accepting the obedience of the Gentiles. The rest of this parable is suited to every time, and each member of Christ's Church: for what is all scripture given?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."-2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."—2 Pet. i. 20.

As each christian forms a part of God's vineyard, what is the labor assigned to each in particular?

To dress and keep his own heart.

Shew me where the heart is called a vineyard? "Mine own vineyard have I not kept."-Song of Solomon, i. 6.

When did we receive our first call to work in God's service and leave the world?

At baptism.

What is said in the catechism of the promise you made then?

"That I should renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil."

What is meant by renouncing these?

Abhorring and forsaking them, for Christ says, "No man can serve two masters."-Matt. vi. 24. To shew you that those make a wise choice who obey this call, we will contrast the service,

and wages of the two masters; 1st, the devil's service which we are so lovingly invited to leave. What are his works?

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like."-Gal. v. 19–21. "If ye

live after the flesh, ye shall die.”—Rom. viii. 13. "He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.”—Gal. vi. 8.

What are his wages?

"The wages of sin is death."-Rom. vi. 23. From this bondage how are we set free? By Christ.

What is Christ's service called in the Collect for Peace in the Morning service?

Perfect freedom.

Perfect freedom from what?

From the dominion of sin. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."-Rom. vi. 14.

What are the works proper for the servants of God?

In the confession we pray, "that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober life."-Titus ii. 12. Living unto God "who gave himself for us."Gal. i. 4. "Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."-1 Pet. ii. 24. Preparing ourselves for eternity by cultivating heavenly