Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/553

 Keeping  back  sins  in  confession. The  unfortunate  man  who  was made dumb  by  the  devil  is  a type  of  those  sinners  whose  lips  are  closed by Satan,  so  that  they  do  not  make  a full  and  sincere  confession.

You see  by  the  case  of  the  Pharisees  how detestable and  malicious  it  is  to  refuse  to  see  the  good  in  other persons, to  attribute  bad  motives  to  them,  and  even  utter  calumnies against them. Have you  ever  done  this?

Do you  pray  every  day  for  the  conversion  of  sinners? To pray for  them  is  even  more  necessary  than  to  pray  for  the  holy souls, for  these  last  are  certain  of  heaven,  whereas  the  former  are in danger  of  everlasting  damnation.

NE day  when  Jesus  was  near  the  lake  of  Genesareth,  great crowds came  to  hear  Him;  and,  sitting  down  on  the  shore, He began  to  teach. But the  multitude  still  increasing,  He  went into a boat,  and  thence  spoke  to  the  people. And He  taught and spoke  to  them  in  parables.

“The sower  went  out  to  sow  his  seed. And as  he  sowed, some fell  by  the  wayside,  and  it  was  trodden  down,  and  the  fowls of the  air  devoured  it. And some  fell  upon  a rock; and  as  soon as it  was  sprung  up,  it  withered  away,  because  it  had  no  moisture. And some  fell  among  thorns,  and  the  thorns  growing  up  with  it