Who is my neighbour? Our Lord then in the following parable beautifully exemplifies the true import of the word neighbour, and forces the lawyer, however unwillingly, to acknowledge that even the Samaritans, the nation whom he despised, were to be considered as neighbours; thereby condemning him by that same law, which he boasted of having fulfilled. Read the parable, George, before we discuss it any farther.'

GEORGE reads:-"A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him he had compassion and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his

own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him; and on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him ; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise.""

MRS. M. Now, George, what do you conceive to be the meaning of this parable?' GEORGE. I think it was meant to shew the young lawyer that even those who professed to be teachers of the law might be deficient in their obedience to it and omit to shew kindness to their fellow-creatures, while he, whom they held in contempt, evinced by his compassion to a poor traveller, that he better understood the law and obeyed it.'

MRS. M. meaning in it?'

And do you see no higher

GEORGE. 'I do not mamma; and yet, I

feel as if I did not fully understand it; as if I ought to find something more in it.'

MRS. M.

'Well, let us examine it. Do

you remember anything about Jericho?'

GEORGE. 'Oh yes, I remember it was under a curse; I think it is mentioned in the sixth chapter of Joshua.'

MRS. M.
GEORGE.
MRS. M.

What was Jerusalem called?'

The holy city.'

'Then we find this poor man was travelling from, had left the holy city, and was going down to the accursed Jericho. How is the situation of this poor man described, Emily?'

EMILY. 66 6 He fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, leaving him half dead."

any

MRS. M. Well, George, can you see likeness in all this?'

GEORGE. No, mamma; you puzzle me.' MRS. M. 'I think the wounded man represents our fallen nature, travelling down to Jericho, the type of destruction; wounded by Satan, stripped of original righteousness,

half dead, spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, unable to help ourselves.'

GEORGE. All that, mamma, I understand : but what means the priest and the Levite?' MRS. M. They seem to me to represent the law which has no power to save; in naming both, I think our Saviour may allude to the moral law, of which he had just been speaking, and to the ceremonial law; both alike unable to heal the wounds made by our spiritual enemy, the devil. Then comes the good Samaritan, despised by the Jews, yet willing to help them; the blessed Jesus. He pours in oil and wine;-his precious blood and his Holy Spirit. The Samaritan brings the wounded man to an inn ;-Christ provides for his own faithful people in his church, and supplies them with ordinances and means of grace.'

GEORGE. This is very plain; and I uppose the host, into whose care he gives the wounded man, represents the Ministers of the Gospel?'

EMILY.

'But the two pence, mamma ?

MRS. M. 'I take that to mean Baptism, and the Lord's Supper; which two Sacraments our Lord himself ordained.’

EMILY. Then, mamma, he says, "When I come again, I will repay thee.”’

MRS. M. 'He does, my child and shall not faithful ministers be richly repaid when at our Saviour's second coming, they shall see among the number of those who shall be with him in his kingdom, members of the flock over whom they have watched and prayed? to faithful ministers is addressed the beautiful promise contained in the last chapter of St. Peter's first Epistle 4th verse, "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.'

GEORGE. This seems so plain, mamma, I only wonder I did not see it before.'

Mrs. M. 'I am glad you see it as I do; but let us not forget our Saviour's injunction "Go and do thou likewise." Be ever ready to assist a suffering fellow creature even though he be an enemy; imitate the example