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SUNDRY PARABLES.

By parable our Saviour draws
Attention to his holy laws-
By parable he loves to scan,

And check the errors of sinful man.

IT is considered very advantageous and proper to use parables or similes in conveying to our fellow creatures the knowledge of truth, because they make a deep and lasting impression on the mind; and this should be attended to, by all who are intrusted with the care and education of youth.

The 13th chapter of St. Matthew contains several instructive parables which Christ addressed to his followers. We have already noticed the Sower; the next is the Wheat and the Tares, which is thus related: "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field;

but while men slept, his enemy came, and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way; and when the wheat came up, the tares appeared also." This parable is meant to represent the world at large; the good seed means true Christians, and the tares the children of the devil. God made man upright, he sowed none but good seed; but the devil soon sowed tares in the earth, and has ever since been endeavouring to destroy the good seed, but never will be able to prevail.

The world at large is a vast mixture of good and bad; blessed be the Lord, there is much seed of the Lord's sowing, though it is lamentable to think how much bad seed the devil has scattered; these, God suffers to grow together, for wise purposes, till the great harvest, the day of judgment, when he will send forth his angels to gather the

wheat into his garner, and direct them to collect the tares to cast into unquenchable fire. Of all things under heaven, nothing can concern us more than to know our true character; and may we never be satisfied till we discover that we are of good seed sown by God. We may deceive ourselves, and others may think well of us; but the grand question is, are our hearts right in the sight of God? The Lord grant that they may be so.

Jesus then spake of the smallness of a grain of mustard seed, which, when grown, becomes a large herb; by this he would show that divine grace in the soul may be small at first, but will thrive;—then he spoke of a woman hiding leaven in meal till the whole was leavened; thus grace in the soul will spread through the whole man, and affect him throughout, in heart, life,

and conversation;-then he spoke of a man who sold all he had, to buy a field in which treasure was hid; and of another who parted with every thing to purchase a pearl of great price. O may we have grace to be willing to part with all for that inestimable treasure, the Gospel; nor think any thing too dear to give for Christ, who is indeed, and of a truth, The Pearl of great Price.

Christ concludes by speaking of a net cast into the sea, which brought up things both good and bad; the good were saved, and the bad thrown away. And thus will it be at the last great day; the righteous will be gathered into the storehouse of God above, while the wicked shall be cast out into endless woe. May we all through grace be found with God's chosen ones in that awfully decisive day!

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