the wicked one, and catcheth away that 'which was sown in his heart. This is he 'which received seed by the way side. But 'he that received the seed into stony places, 'the same is he that heareth the word, and

anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not

root in himself, but dureth for a while for 'when tribulation or persecution ariseth be'cause of the word, by and by he is offended. 'He also that received seed among the thorns 'is he that heareth the word; and the care of 'this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, 'choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and ' understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, 'some sixty, some thirty.'

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is likened 'unto a man which sowed good seed in his 'field: but while men slept, his enemy came ' and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung ' up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared 'the tares also. So the servants of the 'householder came and said unto him, Sir, 'didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? 'from whence then hath it tares?" He said 6 unto them, "An enemy hath done this.”

'The servants said unto him, "Wilt thou 'then that we go and gather them up?"

But he said, "Nay; lest while ye gather 'up the tares, ye root up also the wheat 'with them. Let both grow together until 'the harvest and in the time of harvest I 'will say to the reapers, Gather ye together 'first the tares, and bind them in bundles to 'burn them but gather the wheat into my barn."

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a ' grain of mustard seed, which a man took, ' and sowed in his field: which indeed is the 'least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is 'the greatest among herbs, and becometh a 'tree, so that the birds of the air come and 'lodge in the branches thereof.'

Another parable spake he unto them; 'The 'kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of 'meal, till the whole was leavened.'

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables;

I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and

went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, 'Declare unto us the parable ' of the tares of the field.'

He answered and said unto them, 'He that 'soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 'the field is the world; the good seed are 'the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the 'harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall 'it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they 'shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and 'shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there 'shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then 'shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in 'the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears < to hear, let him hear.

'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy 'thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, ' and buyeth that field.

'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 'a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 'who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and 'bought it.

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'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered ' of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the 'bad away. So shall it be at the end of the 'world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and 'shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there 'shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' Jesus saith unto them, ' Have ye understood 'all these things?'

They say unto him, 'Yea, Lord.'

Then said he unto them, 'Therefore every 'scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom ' of heaven is like unto a man that is an house'holder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.'

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, 'Whence ' hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty 'works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is ' not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, 'James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? ' and his sisters, are they not all with us? 'Whence then hath this man all these things?'

And they were offended in him. But Jesus

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said unto them, 'A prophet is not without “honour, save in his own country, and in his ' own house.'

And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he is risen from 'the dead; and therefore mighty works do 'shew forth themselves in him.'

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, 'It is not lawful for thee to have her.'

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, 'Give me here 'John Baptist's head in a charger.'

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prisơn. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her