The Parable of "The Tares," which described the sad outward appearance of "The Kingdom of Heaven," was unhappily at once exemplified in the early Church. Amongst the first members of the Church of Christ were found Ananias and Sapphira "to lie unto the Holy Ghost" (Acts v. 3); and Simon Magus to bring upon himself the rebuke "thy money perish with thee" (Acts viii. 20). And, as years passed on, we find S. Paul writing to the Church of God at Corinth to rebuke its members of schism (1 Cor. i. 12); of being "carnal" and encouraging "envying and strife and divisions" (1 Cor. iii. 3); of "fornication," and that not merely in a single instance (1 Cor. v, vi); of tampering with idolatrous feastings (1 Cor. viii); of disorders in their religious assemblies, and especially of gross profanity in the celebration of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. xi); of strange misuse of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. xii, xiv); and of denying the great doctrine of the Resurrection (1 Cor. xv. 12). All of these charges show how strongly the tares began at once to grow amongst the wheat. And, in later years, the same Apostle warns the Elders of Ephesus that "grievous wolves" will enter in among them "not sparing the flock" (Acts xx. 29); referring probably to the Gnostic heresies against which the First Epistle of S. John is mainly directed. Let us pass on to happier examples. The Parable of "The Mustard Seed," describing the outward spread of "The Kingdom of Heaven," is illustrated by almost every chapter of the Acts. Beginning with the little seed of an hundred and twenty members, the Church increased at once to thousands on the Day of Pentecost (Acts ii. 41, 47). Then, as the increasing numbers required that Deacons should be ordained to assist the Apostles, we read that "the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests," recognising, we may suppose, the fulfilment of the sacrificial types in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, "became obedient to the Faith" (Acts vi. 7). Then by the Providence of God this multitude of the believers was scattered through the persecution which arose about Stephen, and they "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts viii. 4). So that next "Samaria received the word of God" (Acts viii. 14). Then the good news spread to Damascus, and to Antioch in Syria (Acts ix, xi. 19).