will be the case;

993

"that wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat;" should have at least this effect upon us, to make us doubly careful of our own conduct, doubly watchful over our own hearts, and doubly earnest in our prayers to that blessed Saviour, who is "the way, and the truth, and the life; "2 and who Himself hath told us, "Without Me ye can do nothing.' May that God, who has called us all to the feast of His blessed Son, in mercy grant that when the King cometh in to see the guests, we may be found clothed with the wedding garment of Christian faith; or in the words of the Revelation which we quoted once before, "with robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb!" Then shall we be among those, of whom (according to the prophet Isaiah, speaking by the Spirit of God) "it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for Him: we will 3 John xv. 5.

Matt. vii. 13.

2 John xiv. 6.

be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Then shall the multitude of His redeemed "not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them." "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it."s

Mary. AND this is really to be our last day of parables, Mamma! I am so sorry for it, for I like reading them in this way very much.

Mrs. B. You will, I hope, my love, like reading them more and more, the oftener you read them, and the more you study them. When you read the Bible itself, you will find several more of these parables, containing

well reason upon and

lessons which you may consider; many which will not strike you at first sight, but in which you will find, at each fresh reading, more hidden truths, and more valuable instruction; but I have selected now most of those which I think are best suited to our present purpose, and I hope our conversations upon them will not soon be forgotten.

Mary. Oh no, Mamma, I am sure they will not: and I am quite sure we shall both understand these parables very much better than we should have done, without talking about them in this way; but only I am sorry that there are no more of them.

Mrs. B. Endeavour, my dear loves, to remember well, not only the parables which we have read, but the lessons which they are intended to convey; and not only to remember, but, as far as you have opportunities, to practise those holy thoughts, and those Christian virtues which are taught in them. "Remember now thy Creator," says the wisest of men, "in the days of thy youth."

1 Eccles. xii. 1.

And who, indeed, is there who knows whether he shall live to be old? Which of us knows whether God will grant us another year, another day, or even another hour of life?

Mary. Mamma, I hope it is not wrong to wish to live a long while; but I am so very happy, that I should be very sorry if I was to die soon.

Mrs. B. And may our merciful God and Father keep you here on earth for many happy and useful years! No, my love, assuredly it is not wrong, and at your age it is most natural, to enjoy, with a grateful heart, all the blessings of life; and to love, and be thankful for that state in which it has plesed Almighty wisdom that you should be placed: but as certainly it is right, and the bounden duty of every one of us, old or young, to endeavour to be prepared, whenever it shall please that same Almighty wisdom to call us to another state. You remember the prayer in the Evening Hymn:

"Teach me to live, that I may dread

The grave as little as my bed."

And such should be the earnest prayer of