The Parables of the Saviour The Good Child's Library, Tenth Book — Context and Discussion

They had no depth of ground.

But when the sun came up, and warm Sent forth his beaming ray, Because they had no root in earth, They wither'd all away.

Among the thorns some others fell, Of these there was no hope; The seeds were choked, they droop'd and died, Soon as the thorns came up.

But others fell into good ground, And yielded, as we're told, Some of them thirty, sixty some, And some an hundred fold.

The seed that by the wayside fell, Is wisdom in the heart Of him who heareth words of truth, But understandeth not.

And he who is the stony place, Is one who hears the word, Anon with joy receiveth it, And follows after good.

But tribulation soon assails, And persecutions rise, He then forgets the word of truth, And all his goodness dies.

The thorny place is one who hears, And does the truth receive; But finds that cares of life and wealth, His mind and heart deceive.

The good and fertile ground is he Who hears and understands; And shows his, life obedient to All that the truth commands.

THE TARES AND THE WHEAT.

My kingdom I will liken to, A man who in his field Sow'd good seed, and expected soon A harvest it would yield.

But while his servants slept, there came A wicked enemy, And sow'd his _tares_ among the wheat, And then went on his way.

And when the good seed did appear The tares began to show; The servants wonder'd much, and said, "Why, master, thou didst sow

"The best of seed all o'er the field, From whence then come these tares?" "An enemy," he said, "hath come Upon us unawares,

"And scattered forth his evil seed;" The servants said to him, "Wilt thou then, that into the field We go and gather them?"

The master answer'd them and said, "Let both together grow, Until the time of harvest, lest Ye pluck the wheat also.

"And when the time of harvest comes, The wheat shall in my barn Be gather'd; but the tares I'll bind And in the fire burn."

The children of the kingdom are The good seed that is sown, The tares that came up with the wheat Are of the evil one.

The enemy who sow'd the tares, Is he who fell afar; The harvest, when the world shall end; The angels reapers are.

The righteous shall be gather'd home Forever with the Lord; And as the tares are burn'd, so shall The wicked be destroy'd.

THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.

Once Peter said, "How oft shall I My brother's sin forgive? How oft shall I, if he confess, His penitence receive?"

"Till seven times?" The Saviour said, "_This_ is the law of Heaven, Thou shalt thy brother's sin forgive, Till seventy times seven.

My kingdom, therefore, I will like Unto a certain king, Who said that he his servants all To an account would bring.

The first who came was one who did Ten thousand talents owe; And when he could not pay his lord, His heart was fill'd with wo."

The lord unto his servants said, "This debt must now be paid, Go sell his wife and children too, Let payment now be made."

The debtor to his master came, And at his feet did fall, "Have patience with me, lord," he said, "And I will pay thee all."

His heart was with compassion moved, He freely did relieve His heart of sorrow, for at once He all the debt forgave.

This servant then went out and found, One of his fellows near, Who owed to him an hundred pence; And spake to him severe.

He took him by the throat, and said, "Now what thou owest, pay, I'll wait no longer for the debt, But it must have to-day."

This servant then with grief and wo, Down at his feet did fall: "My fellow servant, patience have, And I will pay thee all."

He would not; but with hardness did His own sad case forget; His debtor into prison cast Till he should pay the debt.

His fellow servants heard the tale, And all with one accord, To show his base ingratitude, Came sorrowing to their lord.

And told him all the servant did; And he was very wroth, And to those present said, "Go call The wicked servant forth."

He to him said, "Thou wicked one, Did I not thee forgive Ten thousand talents? Couldst not thou, Thy fellow's debt relieve?

"Couldst thou not mercy show to him, As I did show to thee, Forgiving thee at once the debt, As thou desiredst me?

Now therefore pay me all the debt, I will not thee forgive, Because thou didst not let him go, And all his we relieve."