: THE LIFE OF CHRIST. 165 Salt is good but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. PRAYER. Grant, O merciful God, that as thy holy apostles and first disciples, counting the cost and having respect unto the recompense of the reward, were obedient to the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and forsaking all, followed Him; so we, forsaking all worldly desires and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Questions on Section XVI. To what things does our Lord liken the kingdom of God, and why ? Relate the cure of the blind man whom Jesus sent to wash in the pool of Siloam. Why, when the Jews interrogated the man's parents about the manner of his cure, did they evade the question? How did the man himself answer, when they questioned him? Relate the subsequent interview between Christ and this man. What is the parable of the good shepherd and the sheep, and its interpretation? How does the conduct of the hireling differ from that of the true shepherd? What does Christ make the test of being really his sheep? How does Christ assert his divinity in this place? Why did the Jews take up stones to stone him? What was our Lord's reply when asked, "Are there few that be saved?" Relate the cure of the man that had the dropsy. By what parable does our Lord inculcate humility? SECTION XVII. From the Parable of the lost Sheep, to the Warning of the Necessity of leaving all to follow Christ. PRAYER. O Saviour of the world, who came to seek and to save that which was lost, and who by Thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save, help, and defend us now and evermore, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen. HE that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Then drew near unto him all the Publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. 167 house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that 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 swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and 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, And am no more worthy to be called thy son : Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his 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 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 on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come: and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in ; therefore came his father out, and entréated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he 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; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the steward PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD. 169 ship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they 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 my lord? And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into 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 in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit 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? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. * The meaning of the latter part of this remarkable illustration of the cheating steward seems to be, that his master applauded the worldly wisdom of his fraud, and our Master recommends to us the heavenly wisdom of employing our worldly riches and advantages," the mammon of unrighteousness," in such pious and charitable uses as shall lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven, when the wealth and the fashion of this world shall have passed away. |