44 The Labourers in the Vineyard. CHAP. 



too prudent to think of leaving the father's house, 

 and with it comfort, respectability, occupation which 

 was probably agreeable, and his position as his 

 father's heir. Such prudence is not to be despised ; 

 godliness is profitable both for the present life and 

 that which is to come, 1 and there is a spiritual 

 prudence which Our Lord constantly commends. 

 But that which makes man likest God unselfish 

 love was wanting; he was calculating towards his 

 father, and unsympathising towards his brother. 



We have now to consider the similar teaching of 

 the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard. The 

 labourers who toiled in the vineyard from early 

 morning are nearly the same as the elder son who 

 had served his father all his life ; and the murmurs 

 of the labourers who had borne the burden of the 

 day and the scorching heat, when those who had 

 worked but one hour, and that in the evening, were 

 paid as much as themselves, are nearly the same as 

 the murmurs of the elder brother at seeing the 

 returning prodigal received .with rejoicing and 

 festivity, and restored, without a word of reproach, 

 to a son's place in the father's house and the 

 father's love. And the answer to both is the same. 

 God's service is unlike man's, in that mere length of 

 service does not count in the apportioning of reward. 

 When the repentance of the prodigal is sincere, he is 

 at once restored to the place which his sins had 

 forfeited; and when the service of the latest hired 



1 1st Timothy iv. 8. 



