AND AGAIN. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a great Ruler who had a fountain of healing waters.

Now this man called his servants, and gave them vessels of the water, saying, “Go forth into the deserts and find those who are ready to perish and give them to drink that they may live.”

And they went forth. But it came to pass that some of them put filth in the water so that no man might drink thereof. Others did put in various medicines, and flavorings and colors in the water and offered it for sale; but he who drank thereof was made ill thereby.

Again others said to themselves, “Why should we give away this water to these men who are nothing to us? We might need it ourselves and find no other.”

So they kept the water, but when they sought to drink, behold the water had dried up and they thirsted exceedingly without remedy.

Yet again others of his servants went forth and gave freely of the water unto those who were ready to perish—even all they had, and behold when the thirsty men had drained the vessels, the bearers looked and found that the vessels were full again and running over, and no matter how many drank or how much, the supply never ran out, nor were the vessels emptied.

And they were amazed to find that when they had rescued the perishing each man had the face of their master.

Now, after these things had come to pass, the Ruler came forth with his men of authority to see what his servants had done.

And when he saw what some of them had done, he was wroth, and had the faithless ones put in bonds, saying, “Bind these faithless and evil men, and put them in prison that I may judge them and punish them, each man according to his works.

Then he spake yet again, saying, “Take those who have given of the water undefiled and without adulteration, and who have also given freely and without price, and set them in high authority; for unto each shall be done as he faithfully deserve, and he who is faithful in a low task shall I set above his fellow men.”

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