648 A SHORT VIEW OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. slept while the bridegroom tarried, and at midnight when the bridegroom came, even the wise were something unprepared, but the foolish were shut out of the wedding r Whence our Saviour draws this advice, " Watch ye, for ye know not the day er hour, when the Son of mancometh ;" Mat. xxv. 1 -13. 36. Q. What is the parable of the talents ? A. Those ser- vants who were intrusted with several talents, and had improved them, were rewarded in proportion to their improvement But hewho laid up his talent in a napkin, and made no improvement of it, was cast into utter darkness, as an unprofitable servant. The plain design of this parable is, to shew the necessity of dili- gence in the improvement of all our mercies and advantages; Mat. xxv. 14-30. Luke xix. 12-27. 37. What is the parable of the prodigal son ? A. The younger son of a familygrew prodigal, and wasted his estate in rioting abroad, while the elder son lived at home and served his father; but upon the return of the prodigal, and his repentance, his father received him with much compassion and joy ; at which his elder brother was angry. So shall the mercy of God be shewn to the repenting Gentiles, when they shall forsake their sins and return to God, though the Jews will be envious and quarrel with this conduct of providence ; Luke xv. 11-32. 38. Q. What was the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? A. The rich man who spent his days in luxury, and was cruel to thepoor, died, and went to hell ; but Lazarus a beggar was re- ligious, and went to heaven : The rich man in his torments would fain haveLazarus sent to warn his kindred of their danger ; but Abraham tells him, that if they will not hear Moses and the pro- phets, neither will they be persuaded to leave their sins, though one rose from the dead ; Luke xvi. 19-31. 39. Q. How could the hearers of Christ understand these parables ? A. There were many of them which they did not understand : But when they were retired from the multitude, Christ expounded the parables to his disciples; Mark iv. 9 12, 34. 40. Q. Besides these public sermons and parables, had not Jesus Christ some conversation and disputes with several sorts of persons ? A. Yes, he had some discourses with the multi- tude and with his own disciples, which would be too long to re- peat : And besides these, he had also some debates with Nico- demus, with the woman of Samaria, with the Herodians, with the Sadducees, with the Pharisees and Doctors of the law, with the ruler of the synagogue, and the chief priests and elders of the people. 41. Q. What was his discourse with Nicodemus ? A. He taught Nicodemus, who carnet() him by night, that a man must be born again, that is, he must have his old sinful' nature re- newed into holiness, if he would see the kingdom of God ; and
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