he destitute as to overlook a certain beggar named
Lazarus laid at his gate, and not even to give him of the crumbs from
his table. So when one and other were dead, the poor man, full of
sores, was carried away, he saith, into Abraham's bosom, for thus he
describeth the habitation of the righteous--but the rich man was
delivered to the fire of bitter torment in hell. To him said Abraham,
'Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus
his evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

"And otherwhere he likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a certain king
which made a marriage-feast for his son and thereby he declared future
happiness and splendour. For as he was wont to speak to humble and
earthly minded men, he would draw his parables from homely and familiar
things. Not that he meant that marriages and feasts exist in that
world; but in condescension to men's grossness, he employed these names
when he would make known to them the future. So, as he telleth, the
king with high proclamation called all to come to the marriage to take
their fill of his wondrous store of good things. But many of them that
were bidden made light of it and came not, and busied themselves: some
went to their farms, some to their merchandize, and others to their
newly wedded wives, and thus deprived themselves of the splendour of
the bride chamber. Now when these had, of their own choice, absented
themselves from this joyous merriment, others were bidden thereto, and
the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see
the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment, and
he said unto him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a
wedding garment?" And he was speechless. Then said the king to the
servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into
outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Now
they who made excuses and paid no heed to the call are they that hasten
not to the faith of Christ, but continue in idolatry or heresy. But he
that had no wedding garment is he that believeth, but hath soiled his
spiritual garment with unclean acts, and was rightly cast forth from
the joy of the bride chamber.

"And he put forth yet another parable, in harmony with this, in his
picture of the Ten Virgins, 'five of whom were wise, and five were
foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with
them, but th