them that weep.*

What is the most effectual

way of showing our sympathy? By pleading for our fellow-creatures. With whom should we plead for them? With God, who is able to deliver. In the case before us, What did the servants 66 came and told unto their lord all that

do? They

was done."

32. What did the lord of the household do?

"Then

his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me."

33. What more did his master say?

"Shouldest not

thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?" What is the blackest feature in the character of fallen man? Ingratitude. And what is the most flagrant form of ingratitude? Despising the riches of God's goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering.+

Would you not be shocked at the charge of despising God's goodness, &c.? Yes. But are you sure that you are not now despising that goodness ?-In what way do people show that they despise the goodness of God? By neglecting to secure a personal interest in his salvation. And what are such despisers of the Gospel treasuring up unto themselves? Wrath against the day of wrath.

34. Was the day of wrath now come to the wicked servant, in the parable? Yes; "his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should

pay all that was due unto him."

What is the

meaning of "tormentors" in this passage? Jailors,

or keepers of the prison.

Why are jailors here

Because imprisonment

denominated" tormentors"? is a much more severe punishment in Eastern countries than it is in this quarter of the world. How so? In those countries a prisoner has a very scanty allowance of food, and is often loaded with heavy clogs of wood. Is this the end of the parable? Yes. Where have we the application of it? In the following verse.

35. Who made the application of the parable? Our Lord. What are his words? "So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." What is meant by, "So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you"? That if we do not forgive others, the Almighty will mark our iniquities and punish them.* What is the great pattern of forgiving mercy, which we are called to imitate? Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.t How does Christ forgive? Freely, fully, and for ever. Is it difficult for us to forgive as He forgives? Very difficult; especially when the injury we have received is great. What, in such a case, can dispose our hearts to the exercise of for

So difficult, that when the disciples heard of it, they prayed, "Lord, increase our faith," Luke xvii. 5.

giveness? Nothing but a sense that we ourselves have had much forgiven. What does a sense of

having had much forgiven, produce in us? Much love to God and man.*

CHAPTER XIX.

What does the nineteenth Chapter of this Gospel contain?

1. THE SUBJECT OF DIVORCE.

2. THE DANGER ATTENDING RICHES.

3. THE SURE REWARD OF SELF-DENIAL FOR CHRIST'S

SAKE.

1. Who is here mentioned? "Jesus." What is stated respecting Him? "And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee." What sayings are referred to, as being finished? The sayings recorded in the preceding chapter. Why did our Lord leave Galilee? Because he was going to Jerusalem, to keep one of the Jewish feasts. What were the principal feasts of the Jews? The feast of the Passover, the feast of Pentecost, and the feast of Tabernacles.† What was the feast of the Passover? A feast held in remembrance of the angel of the Lord passing over the houses of the Hebrews, when he slew the

Luke vii. 47.

+ Exod. xxiii. 14-17.

first-born of the Egyptians.*

Had this feast any

other name? Yes; it was called, the feast of unleavened bread.t What is unleavened bread? Cakes made without any leaven. What is leaven?

See xiii. 33.

Why was the Passover called the feast of unleavened bread? Because no other bread was eaten during the seven days of the feast How was the Passover observed ? By killing a lamb; sprinkling its blood upon the door-posts of their houses; and eating the flesh roast with fire.§ How often was it observed? Once every year.|| Was there something significant in the Passover? Yes; it was a type of Christ-the slain Lamb of God. What is a type? See xiii. 35. What was the second feast? The feast of Pentecost. What was the feast of Pentecost? A feast held in commemoration of the wheat-harvest, and of the giving of the law.

signify? Fifty. tecost, or fifty?

What does the word Pentecost Why was this feast called PenBecause it was held fifty days after

the feast of Passover.

vest.

Was the feast of Pentecost

known by any other names? Yes; it was called the feast of weeks;* *** of first-fruits ;** and of harWhy was the Pentecost called the feast of weeks? Because it was held a week of weeks, i. e. seven weeks after the Passover. Why was it called the feast of first-fruits?

first ripe fruits were brought, and

Exod. xii. 26, 27.

Exod. xii. 5-9.

Because then the

presented before

* Exod. xxxiv. 22. ++ Exod. xxiii. 16.

the Lord.*

Why was it called the feast of har

vest? Because it was held at the beginning of wheat harvest. Was there any typical reference in the feast of Pentecost? Yes; it prefigured the bringing in of the first-fruits of the Christian church. What do you mean by the first-fruits of the Christian church? The three thousand converts who were brought into the Church in one day.t Did that event take place on the day of Pentecost? Yes.‡ And how long was that after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Just fifty days. What is the third feast? The feast of Tabernacles? What are tabernacles? See xvii. 4. What is the feast of Tabernacles? A feast held in remembrance of the Israelites' dwelling in booths in the wilderness.§ How did the Jews keep the feasts of Tabernacles? By dwelling seven days in booths.[] name had the feast of Tabernacles? called the feast of ingathering.¶ called the feast of ingathering?

What other

It was also

Why was it Because about

that time the fruits of the vine and of other trees were gathered in. Had the Jews any divinely appointed feasts, besides the three already mentioned? Yes;** but not any that required all the males to go to Jerusalem to keep them. What other annual feast was there of great and solemn importance? The feast or fast of Expiation.tt What is the

Exod. xxii. 29, and Deut. xxvi. 1-4.

Acts ii. 1.

Neh. viii. 14-17.

+ Acts ii. 41.

Lev. xxiii. 39-43.

Exod. xxiii. 16.

** As the feasts of New Moons and of Trumpets.

++ Lev. xxiii. 27.