Christ himself, that "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."* And we cannot but believe that beings, infinitely good and holy, must delight in seeing others making advances, however slowly, towards the same state of perfection and happiness. But this has taken us a little away from the subject of our parable, which, as you remember, was to illustrate our different degrees of goodness; and which will also show us what will be the dealings of a just and merciful God with regard to them. Bear this in mind, and I think you will understand, without much explanation, the parable of the nobleman and his servants. St. Matthew and St. Luke both relate it, with some trifling differences. I mean to take the words sometimes from one, and sometimes from the other.

"A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom,"

* Luke xv. 7.

(or to take possession of an estate which belonged to him,) "and to return. And he called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods, and said unto them, Occupy" (or employ to the best advantage) "till I come. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."

Mary.--Mamma, I beg your pardon for interrupting you, but is not a talent a sum of money?

Mrs. B.-Yes, my love; you are quite right to ask the question. A talent was a sum of money, or rather a quantity of gold or of silver, amounting to a certain weight. St. Luke' uses instead of talent, the word "pound;" but it is sufficient to know, that a sum of money, no matter how large or small, is intended.

"Then," continues St. Matthew, "he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And, likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other

two. But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh, and commandeth them to be called unto him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. And so he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou de liveredst unto me five talents, behold I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He also that had received two talents, caine and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents, behold I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent,

His

came and said, Lord, I knew thee, that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo! there thou hast that is thine. Lord answered and said unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked and slothful servant. Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed, wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have received my own with usury? (or interest for money lent.) Take, therefore, the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath."

Henry. But surely, Mamma, that was not quite fair; was it? For the man who had already ten talents could not want any more, and the other did.

Mrs. B.-We will go over the parable line by line, and see what moral we can draw from it; and I think we shall shew you, Henry, before we have done, that you have been rather hasty in judging, and therefore have judged wrong. And now, to begin our examination, Who is meant, think you, Henry, by the nobleman and his servants? or can you tell me, Mary?

Mary. Yes, Mamma, I think I can; I think I understand it all quite well. Mrs. B.-All quite well! that is saying a good deal.

Mary-I mean, Mamma, that I thought while you were reading, I could make out what each part meant, and how it all applied.

Mrs. B.-Well, my dear, I am glad to hear that you have been able to follow the general meaning so far: but depend upon it, you will find in this, as in all the other parables, that though the general line of comparison may be plain and simple enough, the more we enlarge upon, and