CHAPTERXXIII. 847 nisters preach the gospel, the word becomes more or less fruitful, or unfruitful, according to the good or evil hearts of the hearers; Mat. xiii. 1 -23. 30. Q What is the parable of the tares in the field ? A. As the enemy had sowed tares where the husbandman had sowed wheat, and they were both suffered to grow together till the harvest, then the wheat was gathered into the barn, and the tares were burred ; so the devil mingles his children with the children of God in this world, but at the day of judgment they shall be separated ; the children of the devil shall he cast into a furnace of fire, and the children of God shall shine in the kingdom of their Father; Mát. xiii. 24-43. 31. Q. What means the parable of the merciless servant ? A. 'Though hislord forgave him ten thousand talents; yet he dealt cruelly with his fellow-servant who owed him but a hun- dred pence, and cast him into prison till he should pay it. When the lord heard ofit, he reprovedand imprisoned him till the pay- ment of his debt : And thus the great God, who is ready to for give us our innumerable sins, will deal with us, if we forgive not our brethren their offences against us ; Mat. xviii. 21---35. 32. Q. What parable is that which is called thegood Sama- ritan ? A. When a Jew was abused and stripped, and wounded by robbers, and left helpless, a priest and a levite passed by and neglected him, a Samaritan took care of him, and carried him to an inn for his recovery. This Jesus spake to shew that the Samaritan treated the Jew as a neighbour ought to do, and that no differences of opinion should hinder us from actions of com- mon humanity towards other men ; Luke x. 30-36. 33. Q. What is the design of the parable of the labourers in the vineyard ? A. The labourers who were called at the eleventh hour, through the great goodness of the master, re- ceived the same reward as those who were called in at the first hour : even so the. Gentiles should be called into the church in the latter days, and enjoy equal privileges with the Jews, who had been called many ages before them : Mat. xx. 1 -16. 34. Q. What is the parable of the wicked husbandmen ? A. The owner of a vineyard let it out to husbandmen, and going into a far country, first sent his servants, and at lost his son to receive the fruits : but they beat and slew both the servants-and the son. Upon which, at the return of the owner, these hus- bandmen were destroyed, and the vineyard let out to others : By which our Saviour designed to shew, how the Jews brought no fruit to God, notwithstanding all their advantages ; that they abused his prophets, and would slay his Son, that God would turn them out of hischurch, and give his gospel to the Gentiles ; Mat. xxi. 33-43. 35. Q. What is the parable of the ten virgins ? A. Some Of these virgins were wise, and some were foolish ; but they all
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