The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ ::

The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ

Done into familiar verse, with occasional applications, for the use and improvement of younger minds. By Christopher Smart

Smart, Christopher (1722-1771)

[section]

[dedication]

THE PARABLES.

PARABLE I. The Sower and the Seed.

II.

PARABLE II. The Kingdom of Heaven compared unto a Man who sowed good Seed in his Field.

III.

PARABLE III. The Kingdom of Heaven compared to a Grain of Mustard-seed.

IV.

PARABLE IV. The Kingdom of Heaven compared unto Leaven.

PARABLE V. The Kingdom of Heaven compared unto a Treasure hid in a Field.

VI.

PARABLE VI. The Kingdom of Heaven compared unto a Merchantman seeking goodly Pearls.

VII.

PARABLE VII. The Kingdom of Heaven compared unto a Net cast into the Sea.

VIII.

PARABLE VIII. The Scribes and Pharisees reprov'd.

IX.

PARABLE IX. The unmerciful Creditor.

PARABLE X. The Lord of the Vineyard and the Labourers.

XI.

PARABLE XI. The Father and his Two Sons.

XII.

PARABLE XII. The Householder and Husbandmen.

XIII.

PARABLE XIII. The Marriage Feast.

XIV.

PARABLE XIV. The Fig-tree.

XV.

PARABLE XV. The Ten Virgins.

XVI.

PARABLE XVI. The Traveller and the Talents.

XVII.

PARABLE XVII. The Seed cast into the Ground secretly.

XVIII.

PARABLE XVIII. The wealthy Self-deceiver—of taking no Thought of the Body—and of Watching.

XIX.

PARABLE XIX. The Barren Fig-Tree.

XX.

PARABLE XX. The Lost Sheep.

XXI.

PARABLE XXI. The Piece of Silver.

XXII.

PARABLE XXII. The Spiritual Œconomist.

XXIII.

PARABLE XXIII. The Prophet without Honour in his own Country.

XXIV.

PARABLE XXIV. The Prodigal Son.

XXV.

PARABLE XXV. The Unjust Steward.

XXVI.

PARABLE XXVI. The Rich Man and Lazarus.

XXVII.

PARABLE XXVII. Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed.

XXVIII.

PARABLE XXVIII. The Importunate Widow.

XXIX.

PARABLE XXIX. The Pharisee and Publican.

XXX.

PARABLE XXX. The Camel and the Needle's Eye.

XXXI.

PARABLE XXXI. The Good Shepherd.

XXXII.

PARABLE XXXII. The True Vine.

XXXIII.

PARABLE XXXIII. The Good Samaritan.

XXXIV.

PARABLE XXXIV. The Children in the Market-Place.

XXXV.

PARABLE XXXV. Christ and Mary Magdalen at the Pharisee's Entertainment.

XXXVI.

PARABLE XXXVI. The Kingdom of Christ compared to a Little Child.

XXXVII.

PARABLE XXXVII. The Disciples the Salt of the Earth, &c.

XXXVIII.

PARABLE XXXVIII. The Beam and the Mote.

XXXIX.

PARABLE XXXIX. Pearls not to be cast before Swine.

XL.

PARABLE XL. A Stone not to be given for Bread, nor a Serpent for Fish.

XLI.

PARABLE XLI. The Strait Gate.

XLII.

PARABLE XLII. The Wolves in Sheep's Clothing.

XLIII.

PARABLE XLIII. The House built upon a Rock.

XLIV.

PARABLE XLIV. A House divided against itself.

XLV.

PARABLE XLV. The Whole need no Physician.

XLVI.

PARABLE XLVI. The Children of the Bride-Chamber.

XLVII.

PARABLE XLVII. The Bearing of the Cross.

XLVIII.

PARABLE XLVIII. The Necessity of Self-denial.

XLIX.

PARABLE XLIX. The Reed shaken with the Wind.

PARABLE L. Leaving all for Christ.

LI.

PARABLE LI. The Leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees.

LII.

PARABLE LII. Humility recommended.

LIII.

PARABLE LIII. The Necessity of Forecast.

LIV.

PARABLE LIV. The Advent of Christ's spiritual Kingdom.

LV.

PARABLE LV. The Harvest and Labourers.

LVI.

PARABLE LVI. Perseverance in Christ encouraged.

LVII.

PARABLE LVII. Adherence to the Doctrine of Christ.

LVIII.

PARABLE LVIII. The Stability of Christ's Church.

LIX.

PARABLE LIX. The Easiness of Christ's Yoke.

LX.

PARABLE LX. The Sign of the Prophet Jonas.

LXI.

PARABLE LXI. Spiritual Affinity.

LXII.

PARABLE LXII. The Woman of Canaan.

LXIII.

PARABLE LXIII. The two Sons of Zebedee.

LXIV.

PARABLE LXIV. The Head-Stone in the Corner.

LXV.

PARABLE LXV. Tribute payable to Cæsar.

LXVI.

PARABLE LXVI. The Woman and her seven Brethren.

LXVII.

PARABLE LXVII. The Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees—The straining out a Gnat—The white Sepulchres—The Hen gathering her Chickens, &c.

LXVIII.

PARABLE LXVIII. The Ax laid to the Root of the Tree—The Lord's Fan.

LXIX.

PARABLE LXIX. The Temple of the Lord's Body.

LXX.

PARABLE LXX. The Second Birth.

LXXI.

PARABLE LXXI. The Woman of Samaria.

LXXII.

PARABLE LXXII. The Bread of God.

LXXIII.

PARABLE LXXIII. Many Mansions in God's House.

[Though the following Passages of the New Testament be not Parables, yet as they are altogether pertinent to our present Design, we have not scrupled to insert them.]

CHRIST disputing amongst the Doctors.

The Disciples pluck the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath-day.

Pilate and the Galileans.

Christ delivereth the Woman taken in Adultery.

The Story of Zaccheus.

The poor Widow commended.

The Transfiguration.

The fiery Disciples.

Martha reproved.

Our Saviour washing his Disciples Feet.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

PARABLE XXXI. The Good Shepherd.

In truth, in very truth, I say,
The man that comes another way,
And enters not the door, his will
Is God's good sheep to fleece and kill:
But the true shepherd of the flock
Comes by the door-way; at his knock
To him the porter opes by choice,
And his sheep know the welcome voice:
And his own flock by name he hails,
And leads them out to verdant vales;
And when he puts them forth to feed,
He does his own good sheep precede,
Which follow, as his voice they know;
But after strangers will not go,
But flee away from such in fear,
As for their voice they have no ear.
This parable our Saviour spake,
Nor could the twelve his meaning take;

He therefore said to them again,
His gracious purpose to explain,
'Tis truth, the very truth direct,
I am the door-way in effect
Of my own sheep. Who came of old,
Were thieves and robbers of the fold;
But them the sheep did not revere.
I am the door, who enters here,
He shall be sav'd, and to his mind
Free passage and sweet pasture find.
To steal, to kill, and to destroy,
Are a thief's errand, and his joy:
But to give life my mission's seal'd
At large, eternal, unreveal'd.
I am the shepherd good and true,
Who gives his life for sheep like you.
The hireling, to the flock unknown,
Whereas the sheep are not his own,
Sees the wolf come in search of prey,
And leaves his charge, and flies away;
The wolf then seizes on the best
Secure, and scatters all the rest.
The hireling (ev'n as such) recedes,
Nor cares he for the sheep he feeds:
My sheep, the shepherd true and good,
I know, and I am understood.

Me as the Father knows, ev'n so
I him reciprocally know:
And I, his covenant to keep,
Lay down my life, and save my sheep.
And I have other sheep, beside
This fold, for which I must provide;
They, by my voice, shall be controul'd
At length one shepherd and one fold.
Here is my Father's love intense,
Because I willingly go hence,
And die the death to live again.
No man I charge, that I am slain:
But, so empower'd my life resign,
(To yield and to resume is mine)
This is the Father's great behest
Giv'n to my soul's supreme request.

University of Virginia Library

PARABLE XXXI. The Good Shepherd.