Miss M. Read also Romans xi. 13.

Ellen reads. "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles."

Miss M. Very well; when our Lord took the kingdom away from the Jews, to whom did we say that it was given?

Children. To the Gentiles.

Miss M. Now let us apply this parable to ourselves; for remember, children, that the whole Bible was written for our instruction, and therefore we may be sure that we shall find something to learn from every part of it. What was the wickedest act that the husband

men did ?

Susan. They put the son of the householder to death.

Miss M. Can we, like the Israelites of old, put the Son of God to death?

Children. No.

The

Miss M. Not in the same way; but we are told that when we fall away, that is, when we commit any sin, we crucify the Son of God afresh. Heb. vi. 6. So that each time we do wrong, we are as it were crucifying our Lord. It was not only for the sins of the Jews that our Saviour came to atone, but also for our sins, the sins of each one of us, for we are "by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath." husbandmen were punished for not rendering the fruits of the vineyard in their season; so also we, if we render not to the Lord the fruit of good works, shall find that God will take the vineyard, that is, His kingdom from us, and give it to others who will serve Him better than we have done. Our Lord then asked the people whether they had never read that "the

stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner." Whom did He mean by that stone?

Mary. Himself.

Miss M. Yes, and His Gospel, which, though the Jews refused to believe in it, was yet become the head of the corner; it was given to a people who should believe in it, and acknowledge our Lord to be the chief corner stone. Read Ephesians ii. 19, 20.

Susan reads. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."

Miss M. Our Lord then explains this parable by saying, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." To what people was He speaking?

Elizabeth. To the Jews.

Miss M. Yes; and the kingdom was to be taken from them, and given to the Gentiles, who should "bring forth the fruit of good living to the honour and praise of God's name." We have one more verse to consider, which is not at first so easily understood, but by the help of other texts, I think that we may find the right meaning for it: we are told, that whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. Now what does St. Peter say in 1 Peter ii. 8?

Jane. "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Miss M. And again, 1 Corinthians i. 23, 24.

Mary. "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the

Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Miss M. To the Jews our Lord would become a stumblingblock, because before His coming they had lived in accordance with the law of Moses, and had kept the commandments of God: but now that our Saviour was come whom they should have acknowledged as the Messiah, they failed to do it, and therefore fell on that very rock, which might have been their salvation. To the Greeks it was foolishness, for they only sought after the wisdom of this world, and did not therefore understand that wisdom which cometh from above. But for our comfort, we are told in the next verse, that to all those who are called by the Spirit of God, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. What does our Lord go on to say of those on whom the stone falls, who have by their rejection of Him provoked Him to wrath?

Mary. That they will be ground to powder.

Miss M. Therefore sinners will be as the chaff which the wind scattereth abroad, "The ungodly ́shall not be able to stand in the judgment, neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”

F

CHAPTER X.

THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S

:

SON.

Matt. xxii. 1-14.

"AND Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind

:

and

him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."

Miss Morton. What are we told in this parable that a certain king did ?

Elizabeth. Made a marriage for his son.

Miss M. For what purpose did he send forth his servants ?

Selina. To call them that were bidden to the wedding.

Miss M. And did they obey the summons?

Anna. No, they would not come.

Miss M. This was a great affront to the king, and he might most justly have been very angry; but observe his patience. What did he do?

Jane. He sent other servants.

Miss M. What did he tell them to say to those that were bidden or invited?

Mary. "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready come unto the marriage."

Miss M. What a kind invitation! How was it received ?

Emily. "They made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise."

Miss M. What was the conduct of the remnant or remainder?

Kate. "They took his servants and entreated them spitefully, and slew them."

Miss M. The king's patience was at length exhausted: he was wroth, or angry. How did he punish those murderers ?