so they may escape coming one day into this place of torments.'

But Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them;" which signifies that we all have light and instruction sufficient for salvation within our reach, and need not, therefore, seek for more through extraordinary means.

The rich man said, "Father Abraham, they will not listen to them; but if any one returned to them from the dead, they would believe him and be converted."

But Abraham replied, "If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not believe, even though any one should rise from the dead."

6. These last words mean that even miracles will not convert those who refuse to hear, and profit by the lessons of the Church.

7. It is far better to resemble the pious Lazarus, even in his sufferings and poverty, than to be like the rich man, who, although abounding in prosperity, led a selfish life, and had an unfeeling heart. This history forcibly instructs us on the opposite fates reserved for the wicked among the rich, and the virtuous among poor. The poor are taught that, if they the fear of God, an eternity of indemnify them, a thousandemporary sufferings. And the to beware of imitating the nsensibility of the wicked Dives, his miserable lot in eternity.

the

And the king, being moved with compassion, let him go, and forgave him all the debt.

But when the servant was gone out, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pence.

4. The hundred pence signify the offences of our fellow creatures against us.

And seizing him by the throat, he said: "Pay me what thou owest.' And his fellow servant, falling at his feet, besought him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." But he would not listen to him: and he had him cast into prison until he should pay the debt.

5. And the king, hearing what had taken place, sent for the unmerciful servant, and said to him, "Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all thy debt, because thou didst entreat me to do so. Why, then, didst thou not take pity on thy fellow servant, as I took pity on thee ?" And, being angry, the king ordered that he also should be cast into prison until he should pay all his debt.

6. "And thus," continued our Lord, "will My heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

7. Jesus Christ gives us, in this lesson, the example of a Samaritan, who showed compassion to a Jew, although the latter held a different faith from him. We should ever remember this lesson of charity and good will towards all men, and, as St. Paul says, love and serve all our brethren, without excepting any.

QUESTIONS.

1. How did Jesus teach us to love our neighbour?

2. How did He show that we should forgive injuries ?

3. What do the ten thousand talents represent ?

4. What is signified by the hundred pence? 5. How did the king punish the unmerciful servant?

6. What did our Lord say of those who refused to forgive injuries?

7. What should we learn, in particular, from the conduct of the Samaritan?

"Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.

"And be ye kind one to another, merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ."-Ephesians, iv. 31, 32.

LESSON XXXVII.

PARABLE OF DIVES AND LAZARUS.

1. Jesus said one day to His disciples: There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and who feasted sumptuously every day.

2. And there was a beggar named Lazarus, who lay at the gate of the rich man, and who was covered with sores. He would have been glad to satisfy his hunger with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, but no one gave them to him, although even the dogs seemed to pity him, for they came and licked his wounds.

3. Now, it happened that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom, as a reward for his patience and resignation. The rich man also died; but his soul, instead of being borne away to bliss by angels, was plunged into the torments of hell. Whilst the unhappy victim lay writhing amidst eternal flames, he raised his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

4. Then he cried out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham said to him, "Son, remember that thou didst receive many good things in thy life-time, while Lazarus only received evil things; but now, he is comforted, whilst thou dost suffer torments. Besides, there is a great abyss between us and thee, so that those who wish to pass from hence to thee cannot do so, nor can any one from thence return here."

5. Then the rich man said, Father, I beseech thee at least to send Lazarus to my father's house, where I have five brothers, that he may warn them;" that is, let them know what awaits them in the other world. "That

so they may escape coming one day into this place of torments."

But Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them;" which signifies that we all have light and instruction sufficient for salvation within our reach, and need not, therefore, seek for more through extraordinary means.

The rich man said, "Father Abraham, they will not listen to them; but if any one returned to them from the dead, they would believe him and be converted."

But Abraham replied, "If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not believe, even though any one should rise from the dead."

6. These last words mean that even miracles will not convert those who refuse to hear, and profit by the lessons of the Church.

7. It is far better to resemble the pious Lazarus, even in his sufferings and poverty, than to be like the rich man, who, although abounding in prosperity, led a selfish life, and had an unfeeling heart. This history forcibly instructs us on the opposite fates reserved for the wicked among the rich, and the virtuous among the poor. The poor are taught that, if they live in the fear of God, an eternity of happiness will indemnify them, a thousandfold, for their temporary sufferings. And the rich are warned to beware of imitating the selfishness and insensibility of the wicked Dives, lest they share his miserable lot in eternity.