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 (Mark xiii. 28.) Instances, however, of premature growth are occasionally met with in particular situations, and under peculiar circumstances. The tree, seen afar off, was distinguished in a district where fig-trees abound, by the unusually forward state of its foliage. It was noticed as "having leaves," which implies that the other trees had none—that the tree in leaf was an exception. The supposition, therefore, was not unreasonable, that fruit might be found in an equally forward state; that the leaves were not expanded in vain: "but when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet."

How just a figure of the state of religion among the Jews at that time! An ample covering of religious doctrine, ostentatiously displayed, but of the fruits of religion utter barrenness. The truths of revelation perverted from their proper function of bringing fruits to perfection, and serving no other end than to distinguish the forward but barren tree, from the yet naked but fruitful one.

When truth is thus misinterpreted and misapplied, the means of fertility are destroyed; the curse is unavoidable and eternal: "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." The morning light shews the tree "dried up from the roots." "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore, your sin remaineth," "Therefore, I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Christians are apt to regard themselves with complacency, in contrast with that blind and hard-hearted people to whom the denunciations of scripture are supposed exclusively to apply: "And