Then Jesus address'd himself to them in this parabolical manner. a certain person planted a vineyard, made a fence about it, clear'd the way for a wine-press, built a tower, and committed it to the care of vine-dressers, while he was travelling abroad.

at the time of vintage he sent his servant to the vine-dressers to receive the profits of his vineyard.

now what will the master of the vineyard do? on his return, said they, he will destroy those vine-dressers, and give his vineyard to others.

then he said to the vine-dresser, you see, I have been looking these three years for fruit from this fig-tree, but find none: hew it down, why should it cumber my ground?