The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-20

neither do they understand"
A parable is a continued and we'll
arranged narrative of some possible
but fictitious event, applied to the
illustration of some sacred truth.
Parable and proverb differ in this,
that the former is a continued mar
rative; the latter is always brief.
The former expresses the compari-
son; in the latter when "a compari-
son exists, 1t is only implied. The
Greek word for parable occurs only
in the three first Evangelists. St.
John in every instance terms them,
not parabOlai (parables), but par
0inaiaj (proverbs). Both words are
often interchanged and used as
convertible terms, and identified.
The Hebrew word for both is the
same, marshall. Hence the Septu-
aglnt translators of the book of
Solomon render it parOimiai {prov-
erbs), and the same word is often
rendered by them parabOgai (para-
bles). The latter they did when
there was a comparison expressed
and the narrative longer. Parable
and proverb are moreover identified
in this, that both, at least in their
origin, were obscure and hard to
be understood. Again, although
proverb conveys no comparison, it
is sometimes a figurative form of
expression. For example, Desire,
When 1t cOmeth, is q tree of life.
They resemble each other in this
respect also, that a pr0ver6 is
but a condensed parable; 1t is the
essence and substance of a parable.
"Of some possible, but fictitious
event" The parallels of the New
Testament always refer to events
that are in accordance with the laws
and ordinary course of nature;
events that often occurred, and were
probably in many instances suggeB-
ted by what was actually occurring
before the eyes of the person who
uttered them. Thus, for instance,
our Redeemer, in the parable of the
SotCer, might be looking at some
sower in on adjoining field.
"Applied to the illustration of
sacred truth" In this it differs
from a fa6ze, the moral of which is
always intended to illustrate some
high spiritual maxims.
The parable appears to bear the
same relation to the smile that the
allegory does to the metaphor; and
hence in Scripture the parable is
generally introduced by some such
form as "7He Kingdom Of Heaven
is like untO." etc., from which 1t
would appear that the parable is
but prolonged simile.
1t was common with the people
of the East, and well suited to the
natural temperament of Eastern
nations to employ parallels for the
purpose of conveying and illustra-
ting abstract moral truths. st.
Jerome tells us this was quite us
ual among the people of Palestine
particularly. His words are, "Fa-
miltorc est Syrjs ct mGGime PaJes-
TINS Gd Omnem ,SCrmOnem Su2tnl
para6OSas juaagere. Hence our Re-
deemer, accommodating Himself to
the prevalent usagcs and manners
of the people frequently employs
parallels to convey and illustrate
His heavenly doctrines. This
method of illustrating moral truths
was attended with many advanta-
ges. Besides fixing the attention
on the subjects treated of, and of
exciting curiosity, it served to i'm
press more wildly on the minds
and imaginations of the hearers the
abstract truths illustrated through
the medium of sensible images, and
of objects familiar to them; and
thus served as a most powerful help
to the memory.
1t was attended with another adj
vantage-it protected the sacre !
word from the disrespect with which
the ill-disposed would have received
it, had 1t been plainly announced