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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)

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THE PARABLES.
 I. 
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.
 V. 
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.
 X. 
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.
 L. 
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.
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[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.

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137

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

John thus the multitudes appriz'd
That came of him to be baptiz'd,
O race of vipers! who is he
That warns you future wrath to flee?
Bring fruit that's for repentance meet,
And do not thus each other greet,
“We from the patriarch Abraham came.”
For this I to you all proclaim,
That God from forth these stones ashore
Can seed to Abraham restore.
And now the ax, so oft defy'd,
Is to the trees their root apply'd;
And that on which no fruit is found,
Is fell'd and burnt upon the ground.
What means, these terrors to avoid,
(The people ask'd) must be employ'd?
He says, Two garments do you wear,
Give one away to him that's bare;
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Let him too that abounds with food,
Be thus distributive and good.
Then also to the baptism go
The publicans, and pray to know,
What, master, would you have us do?
“Exact no more than is your due.”
The soldiers too would understand,
How they should honour his command?
He said, “All violence refuse,
“Nor falsely any man accuse,
“And be contented with your pay.”
Now all th'expecting people stay,
And reason in their hearts, if John
Be Christ?—he answ'ring thereupon
To all in general replies,
With water I indeed baptize,
But one, far mightier than I,
Comes after me, and now is nigh,
The latchet of whose blessed shoes
I am not worthy to unloose;
He shall baptize your inward parts,
Whose ghostly pow'r shall purge your hearts:
In whose right hand the fan is seen,
And he his threshing-floor will clean,
In barns collect the wheat intire,
And burn the chaff with ceaseless fire.
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