An explanation of the parables

secret chamber must be revealed on the house top, that my Gospel may be fulfilled.

* See page 75 of the Flock of Sheep.

† See p. 89 of What manner of Communications are these.

And now come to the other Parable, that I ordered thee to place next * ; and mark the words I spoke in thee: "All should begin to enquire, like thee, the way they were betrayed; and like thee should their fears come on; and then like thee I should preserve them." Then now mark the parable; they found they were betrayed into the hands of an enemy, and their lives were in danger; in their fears they were alarmed, and began with wisdom to seek a way to shun their dangers; and like thee they were preserved. So now discern this parable, with the words I spoke to thee; and then they will see I brought forward parables plain before them, to shew them the likeness of my Words, how I should fulfil them; and from the Parables you may see how the wise will see their dangers, fear them, and shun them, while the others will be like the parable I shewed thee of the Lady that mocked the Warning, though so often repeated before destruction came upon her † : and these were the words I spoke within thee: how men and devils would tremble and fear; and what horror would be in some that mocked the warning, when I come. So let men discern all the words I spoke within thee, and then they will see the parables, what likeness there is in them to fulfil the words I spoke in thee.

‡ See p. 81 of the Flock of Sheep.

So now discern the end of the Parable of the Knight, how the decrees of the woman could not be frustrated ‡ ; and so I told thee of my decrees, they were fixed and decreed from the foundation of the world; and in my Gospel I have shewn them I should come again in might, majesty, and glory, to bring in the Redemption of Man; therefore I brought forward a parable of a temporal earthly or worldy decree, that