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the field." Both these parables teach us the great value of true religion.

Christ's revelations concerning the joys of heaven are delightful. "Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward which is in heaven.” And to these revelations of the Saviour an apostle adds: "Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, or the heart of man cannot conceive the joys which God hath prepared for those who love Him." And yet the eye of man has seen many beautiful things here on earth, from the starry firmament, that most magnificent work of God, to the smiling earth with its plains and forests, hills and vales, its mountains, rivers and oceans.

His ear had heard much delicious harmony, from the warbling of the birds in the summer foliage to the majestic peal of the thunder.

His heart has throbbed responsive to many joys, from the paternal embrace to the soothing kindness of a friend, from the simplest emotion of pleasure to the purest and loftiest sentiment following a good action; but still it is said by One that cannot err, that neither "eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it en

tered into the heart to conceive the entrancing joys of heaven."

After that, Jesus might well invite men to raise their eyes to heaven, and put forth every effort to secure such a place of rest and granduer. The Master said: "Strive to enter in, work while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work."

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins represents the union of God with the elect. The Five Wise Virgins made ready for the coming of the bridegroom; the Five Foolish Virgins made no preparations and were shut out from the feast.

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. -This parable represents life as a day which is given us to accomplish a certain task, and to. earn certain wages. The parable teaches us that God's patience is so great that He waits even to the last hour; but even infinite patience has its limits, and the man who neglects to do his allotted work may be left without wages.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Our Lord said: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking

fruit thereon, but found none. And he said to the tiller of the vineyard: 'Behold, these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down, why doth it take up the ground?" " The teaching of this parable is that we are represented as trees planted in a vineyard, and that we must bear fruit.

A tree that bears no fruit, or otherwise bad fruit, is not worthy of a place in the vineyard; it is cut down, and cast into the fire.

The Parable of the Talents.-Here is a marvelous figure of human life. It is that a certain amount of capital has been placed in our hands by God in order that we may increase it, and that He will exact a strict account of its use.

A certain man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, and immediately he took his journey."

The man who received the five talents went and traded with the same, and gained other five. And in like manner he that had received two gained other two. But he that had re

ceived the one talent, going his way digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them."

He approved and commended the fidelity of the man who had received the five talents, and likewise the one who had received the two talents; but the man who received the one talent the lord condemned for his slothfulness.

The parable teaches us that God in giving unto us life, has confided precious talents to our care. All have received some kind of a talent or talents. God leaves us to make what use we choose of His gifts, but on His return He will demand a strict account of them, and we shall receive a proportionate reward for the faithful use which we make of our trust.

The talents intrusted to us by God are the qualities of the heart, mind and body, and we are to develop those qualities—the physical, the intellectual, and the moral, so as to make them serviceable to the giver.

Again. Consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We read in St. Luke's Gospel that, "A certain man had two sons, and the younger son said unto his father, father, give me the

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portion of goods that falleth to me,' and he divided unto them his living."

The younger son was disobedient and ungrateful, lived as a prodigal, wasted his substance, was reduced to beggary, and finally returned to the home of his father. How beautifully does this parable illustrate the love of Jesus Christ for lost sinners, and what a gracious welcome is given to all who truly repent and reform.

That immortal parable, called the Parable of the Good Samaritan, is one of the most beautiful ever uttered by mortal lips, setting forth the law of self-abnegation and genuine kind

ness.

One day while Jesus was upon earth, a young lawyer came to Him with this question, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus referred him to the Ten Commandments. He then reduced them to two, and instructed him that if he kept them he could have that for which he was inquiring.

But the young lawyer said: "Who is my neighbor?" And Jesus answered by saying: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, he fell among thieves who robbed him,

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