that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought

forth wild grapes.

"And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

"What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ?

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And now, go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall come up briars and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

"For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry."

:

"Here the prophet explains what the vineyard was: the Jewish Church, planted by God in Canaan, or the Holy Land; having priests

and a temple, the sacred books of Moses and the prophets, the actual Tables of the Law, the Ten Commandments. Did they serve God faithfully as they ought?"

"No, mamma, I believe not."

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No, Honora, the vine brought forth only wild grapes-unreal worship. It was all outside show-and when God continually sent his servants, the prophets, to call them to repentance and ask for real love, and real obedience, and good works, they took them and put them to death. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, was stoned; Michaiah and Jeremiah, cruelly treated and imprisoned. Elijah had to flee for his life into the wilderness. Isaiah himself was sawn in sunder. At last, after leaving them alone for four hundred years, without one reproving prophet, God sent to them His Son, Jesus Christ. Would they receive Him? No! they despised Him, and in this parable He foretold what would be the end, -they would cast Him out of the vineyard. They crucified Him on Mount Calvary, which was outside the city. What followed? What did He make them foretell by His question ?"

"Oh, I see. They said, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out His vineyard to other husbandmen, who shall render

him the fruits in their season.' It was judging themselves, mamma! Christ might have said, 'Out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee, thou wicked servant,' as the Lord did in the Parable of the Talents."

"Who were the other husbandmen who were to have the vineyard instead?"

"The Gentiles, mamma."

"Yes, Honora. This parable was spoken by our Lord immediately after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It was His last warning to that wicked nation. But they would not hear it; and the kingdom of God was taken from them, and the Gentiles adopted in their place. And truly the Christian, or Gentile Church, does, as He foretold, bring forth the fruits' thereofnot without much error-not without its wild grapes' of many kinds, but it still exists-the Bride of Jesus Christ-rich in the works of faith and love, wrought for the last one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine years. We, Nonie, are branches of this vine, daughters of this Church. Let us take care that we do not bring forth wild grapes, but render to God the fruits of obedience and love."

"What does the stone' mean in the 44th verse, mamma ?"

"Our blessed Lord, who is called the Head

corner stone of the Church.

Those who fall on

this stone, that is, will not believe in Him, or try to hurt His Church, will be broken or much punished; but if they are so wicked that the stone falls on them, or is obliged to punish them with full severity, it will utterly destroy them. No one can withstand or oppose the power of the Lord."

"The Pharisees knew He was speaking of them, and yet they went on being wicked! How strange it was!"

"Strange, indeed, but it is often thus; men know their own wickedness and danger, but will not give up their obstinate and wicked will. Have you never persisted in being naughty, when you knew you were naughty, and felt how wrong it was?"

Honora coloured, and was silent.

Darling, when next that perverse and evil temper is on you, remember the vain warning and terrible fate of these Pharisees."

Never again your loins untie

Nor let your torches waste and die,
Till, when the shadows thickest fall,

Ye hear your Master's evening call.-Keble.

"THE last picture in my parable book," said Honora, sorrowfully. "I wish there were a few more! But this one is very pretty. How beautifully the moonlight shines on the faces and hair of those women with the pretty lamps who lie sleeping on the ground! And oh, mamma, look at the angel that hovers overhead near the palm-trees. How quiet and still everything is ! Everything-everybody looks asleep."

"Yes, it is the hush before the long-delayed coming of Christ. The husbandmen have cast Him out of the vineyard, and slain Him. He has risen again, and ascended into heaven; and the strangers who were adopted into the vineyard have, as He foretold, brought forth their fruits in due season. The net cast into the sea has gathered both good fish and bad. The wheat and the tares have grown together to the harvest, and now He putteth in the sickle, for the vintage of the Church is come. Thus,