8 Aug. 1815

Jug. True

III. Principal

Strait Gate Parable

(1)

Parable—allusive parable—of the strait gate. Luke XIII.24 Matt. VII.13 (p.90) (Enter ye in at the strait gate, Matthew: Strive to enter in at the strait gate, Luke[.)]

This is one of those passages which when applied to the spiritual instead of the temporal kingdom is as misapplied as it is important and appalling.

In Matthew’s account to a mind occupied by the idea of the spiritual kingdom there is nothing to put an exclusion upon that interpretation: there is even a word, viz. life, by which some countenance is [....?] to it. But in and by Luke’s account of the same discourse, the application of the parable is confined palpably to the temporal kingdom, MS alt. illegible. the spiritual kingdom is made to evaporate , and the great majority of the human species saved from matchless and everlasting torments. Applied to the kingdom he was striving to set up this exhortation is manifestly a spur: to set up a race for places in the government the best place to him who should come in first was the obvious object. If any man is tardy let him not think that any the most familiar intercourse which it may happen to him to have had with me will profit him even though he should have eaten and drunk with me or make atonement for his backwardness. Seated in my throne I shall know no such person: his portion will be among the unrighteous by whom any invitation shall have been followed MS alt. illegible. by non-compliance.

To any person living at this time of day—to any person other than those to whom he was personally known or might expect to be personally known (and beyond this [...?] on what occasion did he ever extend his thoughts?)—how can this talk about eating and drinking with him have any application?