beautifully simple, and yet full of matter. They are "like apples of gold in pictures of silver." They are "fair in their outward form, but yet fairer within."

Now, in the three first

several of these Parables.

Gospels we find

But it is remark

able that St. John gives us only one, namely, that of the Sheepfold, in the tenth chapter.

Next, let us enquire, Why our Lord spoke in Parables. Why did He, who was the Great Teacher sent from God, adopt this mode of giving spiritual instruction?

For

1. Jesus Himself gives us a reason. on one occasion, when the disciples came and said unto Him, "Why speakest thou unto them (that is, to the multitude) in Parables? He answered and said unto them, It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given : therefore speak I unto them in parables, because they seeing see not, and in hearing hear not, neither do they understand." He meant by this, that He was anxious that those, who really desired to know His truth, and were willing to seek for it, should find it. But He

wished that it should remain hidden, and locked up, from those who did not value it. Oh that we may earnestly seek after, and find, the precious lessons, which these Parables contain !

2. Another reason why our Lord spoke thus was, because anything in the shape of a story interests us more, and makes a livelier impression on our memories, than if the same instruction was given in another shape. A tale or story takes our fancy. When we hear it, we are at once all attention. It stands by us too for years. And this is the reason why there is no portion of God's word that we remember so well, and turn to with such delight, as the Parables which Jesus spake. How very graciously and kindly did our Lord in this way meet our wants, and consider our infirmities!

3. Again, perhaps He spoke thus, in order to show us that we should turn to good account the things which are constantly meeting our eye; and to show us also that we may thus get help in understanding the highest and holiest truths. He teaches us for instance that when we sow a field with corn; or observe

the weeds growing up; or lose one of our sheep; or cast a net into the sea-there is something to be learnt from it. And if only our minds are set on things above, how much there is in the commonest works around us to teach us lessons which may do us good!

4. Another reason why our Lord spoke in parables was, that it was foretold that He should so speak. Thus, when Jesus had been delivering a number of these Parables, we are told that He did so, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in Parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

These are some of the many reasons why our Saviour spoke, as He did, in Parables; and why they deserve all the attention we can give them.

Let us now enquire how we should set about the examination of them.

First, we should be very careful to get the right meaning. We should not be content with a meaning; but we should try and gather the true one.

Some persons will make a Parable teach what it was never intended to teach. I will give you two or three instances.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is clearly meant to enforce upon us the duty of loving our neighbour as ourselves. This was the object in our Lord's mind.

But I have known quite a different explanation to be given. The "Good Samaritan" has been said to mean our blessed Lord Himself; the wounded and half-dead "traveller," Adam and his sinful race; the "oil and wine," pardon and grace; the "two pence," the two sacraments, the Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In short, a meaning has been forced into it quite different to what Jesus intended.

So, in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, just because the Rich Man entreats Abraham, who was in heaven, to send Lazarus to cool his tongue, some have gone away with. the idea that we may offer up prayers to departed Saints. But surely such a doctrine can never be gathered from this Parable.

So again, in that of the Ten Virgins, because five are described as entering into the marriage

supper-room, and five as shut out, it has been supposed by some, that out of those who are called Christians, exactly one half will be saved, and half lost.

But surely this again is "making the word of God of none effect." In reading Scripture, we should avoid anything that is merely fanciful; and try to discover the simple, plain meaning, which God would have us gather from His word.

Secondly, when we have one of the Parables before us, and wish to understand it, we should ask ourselves, What is the general scope or object which our Lord seems to have had in view? We shall be able to gather this from the context-that is, from what goes before, or follows after. We shall thus see what led our Lord to speak the Parable; and this will often remove some of the difficulties. Sometimes too Jesus tells us, or the Sacred Writer tells us, in so many words, what the main lesson is which He wishes us to learn. And if you can find out this, it will serve as a key to open to you the great and leading truth which the passage contains.