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Will God then forgive sinners, if they do not repent?

What may we learn respecting those who keep in their father's house, and follow God's laws?

A. That they live in the constant favour of God. But if the prodigal and wicked repent, what may they hope God through Christ will graciously do? A. Mercifully forgive and receive them.

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ther is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." And he was angry, and would not go in; therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering, said to his father, "Lo! these many years do I serve thee; neither transgressed I at any time thy commandments; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends; but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." And he said unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It is meet that we should make merry, and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found."

Or, according to another explanation of this parable, the younger brother means the Gentile world, who forsook the worship of God, and gave themselves up to idolatry and vice, but many of them repented at the preaching of the Gospel. The elder brother represents the Jews, who accounting themselves the peculiar people of God, murmured at God's goodness in admitting the Gentiles again to his favour under the Gospel. Whom does the younger brother according to this explanation mean?

A. The Gentiles.

Whom does the elder bro

ther represent?

A. The Jews.

CHAPTER VII.

What parable does the

7th chapter contain? Where is it written? What lesson do you from it?

learn

How was the rich man clothed?

How did he fare every day?

What do you mean by "faring sumptuously?" A. Living expensively. Who lay at his gate? In what state was he? With what did he desire to be fed?

What did the dogs do to him?

To what place was the

CHAPTER VII.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.-Luke xvi. 19. They who do not do good here, according to their means, will be severely punished in a future state: and they who suffer poverty and sickness in this life, with a pious and contented mind, will be eternally happy hereafter.

There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed

beggar, when he died, carried?

What do you mean by the expression " Abraham's bosom?"

A. A Jewish expression, signifying an honourable place amongst departed pious souls.

What happened also to the rich man?

When he was in hell, and lift up his eyes, being in torments, what did he see? Who was in Abraham's bosom?

Why was the poor man carried to Abraham's bosom?

A. Not because he was poor, but because he was a godly poor man, patient and contented.

Why was the rich man punished?

A. Not because he was rich, but because he did not make a good use of his riches.

What did he beg Abraham to do?

Whom did he ask him to send?

For what purpose ? What did Abraham tell him to remember?

What did he say was the different lot of the two? What did he say was fixed between them?

What do we learn from this?

with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom ; the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, 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 am tormented in this flame."

But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulph fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."

A. That it will be impossible to pass from hell to heaven.

. What did the rich man then pray Abraham to do? What do you mean by "testify?"

A. Bear witness. Why did he call Abraham his father?

A. Because he was a Jew, and the Jews being descended from Abraham, were accustomed on that account so to call him.

Why were they accustomed to call him "father?" A. Because God first called Abraham to be the father of the Jewish nation.

Into what place was he afraid his five brethren would come?

What reply did Abraham make?

What did the rich man then earnestly request?

But what said Abraham? Where were the law of Moses and the threatenings of the prophets to be found? A. In the Old Testament.

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Then he said, "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."

Abraham said unto him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, " Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." And he said unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one arose from the dead."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE UNJUST JUDGE.-
Luke xviii. 2.

They who pray earnestly to GOD will be protected and assisted by him.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray,

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A. Do me justice. What do you mean by "adversary?" A. Enemy.

Would he at first do it? What reason did he afterwards give for listening to her petition?

way,

If the unjust judge acts in this will not a merciful God listen to our frequent and fervent prayers?

What do you here mean by" avenge?"

A. Do justice for. What is meant by "God's own elect?"

A. Christians chosen out of the world through faith in Christ, to be the church and people of God.

How soon does the Lord say that God will do justice for them, if they cry day and night to him?

CHAPTER IX.

What parable does the 9th

chapter contain?

Where is it written?

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