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have sufficient to finish it; 29. Lest perhaps, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it mock him, 30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first and consults, whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes with twenty thousand? 32. Or else, while he is far off, he sends an embassage desiring conditions of peace. (Do we rebel against God? are we stronger than he?) 33. So likewise, if any of you forsakes not all he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34. The salt (of a sincere profession) is good, but if it hath lost its savour (its sincerity) wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35. It is neither fit for the land nor the dunghill, but men cast it out (apostates are hopeless, Heb. vi.) he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

CHAP. XV.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP.

THEN came all the publicans and sinners near to hear him. 2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.

3. Then he spake this parable to them, saying, 4. If any of you, having an hundred sheep, lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one lost until he find it? 5. And having found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6. And comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.

7. I tell you, likewise, there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repent

ance.

8. Or if any woman, having ten pieces of silver, lose one piece, doth she not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9. And having found it, she calls her friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I found the piece which I lost.

10. I tell you, likewise, There is joy among the angels of God over one sinner that repents.

11. Then he said, A certain man had two sons, 12. Of whom the younger said to his father, Father, give me my appointed portion of goods. So he di vided to them his substance.

13. And not long after, the younger son collected all together, and travelled into a far country, where he wasted his substance by dissolute living. 14. And when he had spent all, a great famine arose in that land, and he was in want. 15. Then he went to be with a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he wished he could fill his belly with the husks that the swine ate, yet no man gave to him.

17. Thus coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have abundance of food, and I perish with hunger! 18. I will go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee, 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.

20. So he came to his father, who seeing him at a distance, had compassion, ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21. Then his son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22. 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. 23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and be joyful. 24. For this my son was dead,

and is alive; he was lost, and is found. So they were joyful.

25. Now his elder son, coming from the field; as he came near the house, heard music and dancing. 26. And having called one of the servants, he asked what these things meant, 27. Who replied, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28. Then he was angry, and would not go in; then his father came out and entreated him. 29. But he said to his father, Lo, these many years I served thee; neither transgressed I at any time thy command; yet thou never gavest me a kid to be joyful with my friends: 30. But as soon as this thy son came, who devoured thy substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31. Then he said to him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all I have is thine. (The Jews had the double portion of a first-born, having both a temporal and a spiritual one, being the church and people of God, enjoying his presence; the Gentiles apostatized from his worship to idolatry, Psalm cxlvii. 18. Rom. iii. 2.) 32. It was meet to rejoice and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

CHAP. XVI.

THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD.

He said also to his disciples, a certain rich man had a steward; (mankind are but stewards of all they have, which is given to them by God, to whom they are accountable for the use they make of their talents, Matth. xxv. 14.); now the same (man) was accused to him of wasting what he had.

2. So he called him, and said to him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest no longer be stew

ard.

3. Then the steward said in himself, What shall I do, for my lord taketh from me the stewardship? I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4. I am resolved what to do, when I am put out of the stewardship, that people may receive me into their houses. 5. So he called each of his lord's debtors, And said to the first, how much owest thou to my lord? 6. He said an hundred measures of oil. Then he said to him, Now take back thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? He said, An hundred measures of wheat. Then he said to him, Take thy bill, and write eighty...

8 Now the Lord commended the unjust steward, (not for his injustice to his master, but) because he had done wisely (for himself); for the worldly men have more worldly wisdom and dilis gence, than the children of the light have of spiritual wisdom and diligence. 9. And I say unto you, Make yourselves friends with the deceitful, uncertain, unsatisfying riches, that when you and these fail, they may receive you into perpetual habitations, (that having rightly used them in charitable and pious ways, you may, by the favour of God, be admitted into heaven.) 10. He that is faithful in what is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. 11. If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in the unprofitable riches, who will entrust you with the true riches (of grace). 12. And if you have not been faithful in what passeth to another man, (even worldly things), who will give you any thing to be your own, (as grace or glory). 13. No man can serve two masters (equally); for he will love the one more than the other, and when they have separate interests, he will forsake the one and follow the other; ye cannot serve God and riches.

14. The Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and derided him. 15. But

he said to them, Ye justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for what is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16. The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man (Gentile as well as Jew) presseth into it. (Men of every kind enter into it). 17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

18. Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her that is divorced, commits adultery.

19. A certain rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day: 20. And a certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21. Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his

sores.

22. At length the beggar died, and was carried by angels to rest with Abraham: the rich man also died, and was buried: 23. And being in torments, in hell, looking up, he seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus with him. 24. Then he cried, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the top of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26. And besides all this, there is between you and us, a great gulf fixed; so that they who would, cannot pass from hence to you; nor come from thence to us. 27. Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, to send him to my father's house; 28. To testify to my five brethren; that they come not into this place of torment. 29. Abraham saith to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30.

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