APPENDIX.

eae

Ir has been suggested that the value of this Bible narrative of events and person-
ages would be enhanced by a few supplemental articles adapted to the purpose of
Scriptural instruction. It is not proposed to construct this supplement with refer- -
ence to juvenile readers especially, but to give it a range and form fitted to interest
all such readers as have a relish for religious truth and knowledge.

PARABLES OF JESUS.

The topic first introduced relates to the Parasizus of our Lord. It is known —
that one peculiar feature of His instructions was the parabolic style. In this respect,
He differed from all other inspired religious teachers. The word ‘ parable,” or “simil-
itude,’’ has been defined to be the placing of one thing together with or by the side
of another. The parable resembles a fable, but differs from it in some essential par-
ticulars. A very satisfactory statement of the chief distinctive features of these two
modes of moral teaching is given by Neander, who remarks, ‘The parable is
distinguished from the fable by this, that, in the latter, qualities or acts of a higher
class of beings may be attributed to a lower (e.g. those of men to brutes) ; while,
in the former, the lower sphere is kept perfectly distinct from that which it seems
to illustrate. ‘The beings and powers thus introduced always follow the law of
their nature ; but their acts, according to this law, are used to figure those of a
higher race.”” Of the fable, as thus distinguished from the parable, two examples,
and only two, are found in the Bible: (1) That of the trees choosing their king,
addressed by Jotham to the men of Shechem (Judg. ix. 8-15); (2) That of the
cedar of Lebanon and the thistle, as the answer of Joash to the challenge of
Amaziah (2 Kings xiv. 9). The absence of fables from the teachings both of
the Old and New Testament is attributed to their want of fitness to be the media
of the truths which that teaching was to convey. It is inadequate as the expo-
nent of the higher truths which belong to man’s spiritual life. It may serve to
exhibit the relations between man and man: it fails to represent those between

man and God. To do that is the office of the Parasiez,
545—553