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CHAP. XVI.

AND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him, that he 2 had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: 3 for thou must be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? I cannot dig, and to beg I am 4 ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that when am put out of the stewardship, they 5 may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto 6 my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill 8 and write fourscore. And the master commended the unjust steward; because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation more prudent than the 9 children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by the right use of riches; that, when ye fail, ye may be received into

* Cunningly, or prudently for himself

10 everlasting habitations.* He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also 11 in much. If therefore ye have not been faith

ful in the unrighteous mammon, who will com12 mit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

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No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate one, and love the other; or he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot 14 serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees who were covetous, heard all these things, and 15 they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men ; but God knoweth your hearts: for often that which is in high estimation with men is an 16 `abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every 17 man presseth into it. And it is easier for

heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the 18 law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery,

* Our Lord here recommends compassion and charity, by the consideration of the future happiness which is reserved for those, who, in addition to other good qualities, appropriate their worldly treasures to the comfort and relief of their fellow men.

†The people were very anxious to hear the doctrines of the gospel and to be interested in the Messiah's kingdom. They thought them to be great, and whether they were rightly disposed, or not, yet certainly they wished to be benefitted by Christ.

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and whosoever marrieth her who is put away from her husband, committeth adultery.

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptu20 ously every day :* There was also a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who was laid at his 21 gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked 22 his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and 23 was buried: And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, 24 and Lazarus in his bosom: And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I 25 am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember, that thou in thy life-time didst receive thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, 26 and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they who would pass hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass thence to us. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him to my father's 28 house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this

* This is a parable used by Christ for the purpose of conveying useful instruction; but not to be supposed real, in every particular.

That is, into the presence and company of Abraham.

29 place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them 30 hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abra- ham: but if one went unto them from the $1 dead, they would repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.*

CHAP. XVII.

THEN said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come :† but 2 woe unto him through whom they come.

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It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should ensnare one of these little

ones.

Take heed then to yourselves; If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; but if 4 he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith. 6 And the Lord replied, If ye had faith as a

grain

of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamine-tree, Be thou plucked up by the root,

*The common evidences of the truth of revelation are sufficient to satisfy candid and attentive minds; and those of different dispositions would not probably be convinced by extraordinary events.

+ Such is the nature and condition of man, that it is morally certain causes of offence will happen.

and be thou planted in the sea; and it should 7 obey you. But which of you having a servant plowing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field, Go, 8 and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready that I may sup; and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat 9 and drink? Is he obliged to that servant, be

cause he did the things that were commanded 10 him? I think not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have only done that which was our duty to do.*

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And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria, 12 and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain

village, there met him ten men who were 13 lepers, who stood afar off: And they lifted up. their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have 14 mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priest. And it came to pass that as they went 15 they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and 16 with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down

on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks; 17 and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus said,

Were there not ten cleansed? and where are 18 the nine? Are none found who have returned

* Our best virtues and services cannot promote the divine felicity, and therefore do not oblige God to confer favors on

Us.