she hath found it, she calleth her friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 I declare to you, there is joy also in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons :* 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that belongs to me. And he divided to each his liv13 ing. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and made a journey into a far country, and there wasted his sub14 stance in riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that 15 land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed 16 swine. And he would have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: for no 17 man gave unto him. And when he came to

himself he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, 18 while I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: 20 make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when

This is a most beautiful and instructive parable; while it shows the folly and thoughtlessness of men, it displays the divine compassion; and teaches that God is ready to pardon the penitent, returning sinner, who sees and forsakes the error of his ways.

he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his 21 neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be 22 called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes 23 on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, 24 and kill it; and let us eat and rejoice: For

this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to 25 rejoice. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew nigh to the house, 26 he heard music and dancing. And he called

one of the servants, and asked what these things 27 meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him in health. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering, said to his father, Lo, these many years I have served thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might 30 rejoice with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, who hath wasted thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted 31 calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art 32 ever with me and all that I have is thine. It is proper that we should rejoice, and be glad : for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

1

CHAP. XVI.

AND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him, that he 2 had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: 3 for thou must be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? I cannot dig, and to beg I am 4 ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they 5 may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto 6 my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill 8 and write fourscore. And the master commended the unjust steward; because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation more prudent than the 9 children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by the right use of riches; that, when ye fail, ye may be received into

10 everlasting habitations.* He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also 11 in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will com12 mit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own ?

13

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate one, and love the other; or he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot 14 serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees

who were covetous, heard all these things, and 15 they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for often that which is in high festimation with men is an 16 abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every 17 man presseth into it. And it is easier for

heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the 18 law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery,

* Our Lord here recommends compassion and charity, by the consideration of the future happiness which is reserved for those, who, in addition to other good qualities, appropriate their worldly treasures to the comfort and relief of their fellow men.

The people were very anxious to hear the doctrines of the gospel and to be interested in the Messiah's kingdom. They thought them to be great, and whether they were rightly disposed, or not, yet certainly they wished to be benefitted by Christ.

and whosoever marrieth her who is put away from her husband, committeth adultery. 19 There was a certain rich man who was cloth

ed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptu20 ously every day:* There was also a certain

beggar, named Lazarus, who was laid at his 21 gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked 22 his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and 23 was buried: And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, 24 and Lazarus in his bosom: And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I 25 am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember, that thou in thy life-time didst receive thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, 26 and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed : so that they who would pass hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass thence to us. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him to my father's 28 house; for I have fivé brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this

This is a parable used by Christ for the purpose of conveying useful instruction; but not to be supposed real, in every particular.

That is, into the presence and company of Abrakan.