THE TARES AND THE WHEAT.

"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart."-Ps. ix. 7.

THERE are two distinct classes of human beings here below. Those who follow Jesus the King of glory, and those who follow Satan the prince of darkness. They are compared to the tares and the wheat growing up in the same field, under the same external advantages. The sun shines equally on the whole field. The dews of heaven fall upon it in the evening. The refreshing shower descends to water it in the day-time, but the wheat only is benefitted. The moistening shower nourishes 'it; the genial heat ripens it for the sickle and the barn; while the tares, black and dried up, altogether profitless, and good for nothing, are condemned to be tied up in bundles and cast into the burning. The comparison drawn by our Lord himself between this field and the world is most just and striking. Two classes of people walk their busy rounds: they have the same privileges, the same advantages, the same outward means. The churches are open to all: appointed ministers preach to all. The gospel is offered to all. But while some receive these blessings, others turn from them and choose for themselves a different way-a way of darkness and death. They love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. They cannot

bear the light, therefore the sun shines for them in vain; they wither under its influence. The salutary visitations of God harden instead of soften them. They wilfully close their eyes, and harden their hearts with a fixed determination to follow the prince of darkness, even to the end, perversely enslaving themselves in a hard bondage, under a cruel taskmaster, who leads them captive at his will.

"The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble." Every step plunges They know not how

them deeper in the thick mire. to extricate themselves, they do not wish to be extricated.

How different in its progress; how different in its termination, is "the path of the just, which, as a shining light, shineth more and more unto the perfect day!"-Prov. iv. 18, 19.

Jesus is a sun and shield to his flock, as well as a shepherd to guide them. In his light they shall see light. The sun does not more surely attract the full front of the sunflower than Jesus does his people to look stedfastly unto him. If they turn from him they must wither and droop, as the sunflower without the influence of the sun.

For a time they may be permitted to wander in cloudy ways, but they shall be brought back. With David each may say, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." Each believer in Jesus can look back upon a time when he was in gross darkness, and he knew it not. But

when the candle1 of the Lord is lighted within him, he can perceive his former darkness, and joyfully acknowledges," Once I was blind, but now I see."

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light: and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up." Matt. iv. 16.

Sat in darkness! "Sat in the region and shadow of death." This is the state of every natural manunaffected, unmoved; he sits on the brink of a tremendous pit. In one moment he may plunge in, and be for ever tormented in unquenchable fire, amid wailing, and weeping, and gnashing of teeth. How merciful, then, is that light which shews him his situation, and the way to escape! He is led into that way, and is warned to avoid the contrary direction. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go`not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Prov. iv.

Who could have supposed that such a heavenly light should suddenly shine round about Paul while "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord?" Acts ix. 1-6. The moment he saw that light, all his murderous purposes were changed. Instead of being a persecutor, he became a follower of Jesus. " And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" The Lord vouchsafed this marvellous light to Paul, whom he foreknew and predestinated to a great work, even the building up of that church which he would, if he

"For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." Psalm xviii. 28.

could, have overthrown for ever. Thus to him was the promise fulfilled," I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Is. xlii. 16. From henceforward he could say, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my paths." The light which shone in upon him enlightened his understanding to understand those scriptures which were heretofore a dead letter, a sealed book, in his hands; though, as was the Jewish custom, read, and revered, and studied with deep application, "but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. ii. 14.

It is not deep study nor scholastic learning which can reveal the truth, but the Spirit of God; "The Spirit which searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

From a persecutor, Paul became a saint, wholly separate from his former way of life and associates. He had no fellowship now with the works of darkness, and he exhorted others to do likewise. "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Eph. v. 8, 10, 11.

When the Lord gives light, he wills that we communicate that light-"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Believers in Jesus are called on to testify against

the works of darkness, that God may set his mark upon them-" And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." Ezek. ix. 4.

The tares and the wheat were suffered to grow together; the first were preserved for the sake of the last. Thus it has been, and thus it will be. The Lord will shelter his own before he suffers the shower of his vengeance to fall. The history of Lot exemplifies it. The little city of Zoar was his appointed place of refuge Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither." Gen. xix. 22.

The history of Noah exemplifies it:—Until the Lord shut him into the ark, he opened not the windows of heaven, nor broke up the great deep to pour out the deluge upon the world.

The leading of the children of Israel out of Egypt exemplifies it" And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed, and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these; so that the one came not near the other all the night." Ex. xiv. 19, 20. "Thou in thy mercy hast led forth thy redeemed thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation." "All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them: by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone, till thy people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and