But when the blade was sprung up, and
brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants
of the household came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good
seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto
them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou
then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye
gather up the tares, ye toot up also the wheat with them. Let both
grow together until the harvest and in the time of harvest: I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them
in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The thoughtful man who wishes well to the Gospel of Christ will
hardly hear this parable without a feeling of humiliation. None of
our Lord's parables are more clear and simple in their meaning; none
have a more direct and practical command appended to them; none have
been less regarded during the last fifteen hundred years.
Toleration, solemnly enjoined, has been the exception. Persecution,
solemnly forbidden, has been the rule. Men, as usual, have fancied
themselves wiser than God; for they have believed themselves wise
enough to do what he had told them that they were not wise enough to
do, and so have tried to root the tares from among the wheat.
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