Crabbe’s Parables

Abstract

One of the things which Christianity offered to the Reverend George Crabbe was a tradition of storytelling, the biblical parable. He transmitted Gospel parables to his parishioners in sermons and in readings from the Prayer Book;¹ he also wrote moral tales in verse which may be compared to biblical parables. Referring, in a sermon dated 29 April 1821, to the parable-like story of Isaac and Rebecca in Genesis 24, Crabbe wrote:

We may dress our Stories in the Habits of Pomp and Circumstance. We may add Adventures and descriptions, but these simple Relations of natural Manners and common Events are not only more true but they are more affecting; they do not bring to our View extraordinary Situations and Trials that no one undergoes, but they teach us by Example what is our Duty.²

25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? 27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbour? 30. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. 34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

(Luke 10:25–37. King James Authorized Version)