forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground, are they which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

In another parable He taught them about the kingdom of heaven on earth, that is, the Church, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto

him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them :

but gather the wheat into my barn."

Jesus then explained this parable, saying, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of

man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to

hear, let him hear."

O how dreadful is the state of the wicked in the next world! They will be separated for ever from the society of the good. Shut out of heaven, they will weep and be always unhappy! If we wish to escape this dreadful end, we must use all our efforts to keep from sin. All who love Jesus, and follow Him, by avoiding evil, and keeping His commandments, will be saved from this misery, and live in heaven for ever with the Lord. God is so merciful and good, that

He is always ready to give us His grace to help us to do what is right. Let us then pray always for this grace, and give up all our wicked thoughts, words, and works.

24. THE PARABLES CONTINUED.

"THE kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."

This parable is an image of the holy Church of Jesus Christ, which from small beginnings has spread itself over the whole world, and has received all the kingdoms of the earth into its bosom, by holy baptism.

"The kingdom of heaven," said Jesus again, "is like unto leaven, which a wo

man took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."

We have been baptised into the kingdom of Jesus Christ; and our whole souls ought to be full of the Divine Spirit of our Saviour. All our thoughts, all our words and actions, ought to be holy and heavenly.

"The kingdom of heaven," continued Jesus, "is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

We must not think any thing too precious to sacrifice for our salvation and sanctification.

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit."

Pious words and good resolutions are of