Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/641

 Those called  at  the  eleventh  hour  were  sinners, for  till  they  were called, they  lived  without  God,  and  neither  had  faith,  nor  practised good works. The parable,  therefore,  teaches  us  that  even  the  sinner will be  saved  if,  at  the  end  of  his  life,  he  opens  his  heart  to  God’s grace and  is  converted. Salvation does  not  depend  on  when  we  are called (for  that  depends  entirely  on  God),  but  it  does  depend  on  how we obey  that  call,  and  whether  we  persevere  to  the  end.

The parable  also  shows  us  God’s Goodness  and  Mercy, and  ought to be  a great  comfort  to  the  converted  sinner,  and  teach  him  never to lose  hope  and  give  way  to  despair.

Furthermore, the  parable  teaches  us  the  necessity  and  the  merit of good  works.  God  calls  us  into  His  vineyard  on  purpose  that  we  may labour for  His  glory  and  save  our  souls  by  observing  His  commandments, avoiding  sin  and  doing  good,  by  faithfully  fulfilling  our  duties as Christians  in  that  state  of  life  in  which  He,  of  His  good  pleasure, has put  us. He who  does  not  thus  do  his  duty  is  standing  idle  and sins by  sloth. By our  labours  for  God’s  glory,  i.  e.  by  our  good  works, we merit  heaven,  because  God,  in  His  goodness,  has  promised  us heaven  as  our  reward. Even though  the  good  which  we  do  is  not  our  own work, being  at  the  same  time  the  work  of  grace,  Almighty  God  has pledged Himself  to  reward  us  for  it  just  as  if  it  were  all  our  own  work.

Who are  the  chosen?  All  men  are  called, because  our  Lord  Jesus Christ died  for  all,  and  “God  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved”  (i  Tim.  2,  4), and gives  to  all  men  sufficient  grace  to  be  saved. The chosen  are  those who really  attain  to  heaven. The name  of  “chosen”  is  given  to  them, because God,  in  His  eternal  counsel,  and  foreknowing  their  correspondence with  grace,  has  chosen  them  for  His  kingdom  of  heaven out of  the  multitude  of  those  whom  He  calls. Thus all  those  are  among the chosen  who,  by  corresponding  with  grace,  make  a good  use  of their  calling  and  of  the  graces  which  God  gives  them. The number  of the  chosen  is,  our  Lord  says,  small  in  comparison  with  the  multitude of those  called; for  many — very  many — of  those  called  are  lost  by  their own fault. This is  a solemn  and  terrible  truth! “Wherefore, brethren, labour the  more  that  by  good  works  you  may  make  sure  your  calling and election”  (2  Pet.  1,  20).

The hatefulness  of  envy.  The  envious  sin  1. against brotherly  love, because they  do  not  heartily  wish  well  to  their  neighbour,  but  grudge him the  good  things  that  he  has. They sin  2. against the  love  of  God, for in  their  hearts  they  find  fault  with  Him,  saying  to  themselves:  “It is not  just  that  God  should  give  such  and  such  things  to  that  man!” Thus an  envious  man  attacks  the  rights  of  God’s  own  Majesty.