This is one of the laws of the kingdom of heaven. It must be so,
for it arises by necessity out of the character of Christ, the king of
heaven.--Infinite bounty and generosity; but if that bounty be despised
and insulted, or still more, if it be outraged by wanton tyranny or
cruelty, then--for the benefit of the rest of mankind--awful severity.
So it is, and so it must be; simply because God is good.
At least, this is the kind of king which the parable shows to us. The
king in it begins, not by asking his subjects to pay him taxes, or even
to do him service, but to come to a great feast--a high court ceremonial-
-the marriage of his son. Whatsoever else that may mean, it certainly
means this--that the king intended to treat these men, not as his slaves,
but as his guests and friends. They will not come. They are too busy;
one over his farm, another over his merchandise. They owe, remember,
safe possession of their farm, and safe transit for their merchandise, to
the king, who governs and guards the land. But they forget that, and
refuse his invitation.
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