VER. 31.] Fruitless Regrets. 435 This deep immeasurable gulf which none can pass is not opened in this world, but we shall soon be on its edge; it is very near, and a moment may set us on one side or the other, never to cross any. more. If we die as God's enemies we may never find an opportunity of pardon. Let us stand on the right side now with His friends, then we need not fear. 27. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28. for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. In the other world how shall we meet the remembrance of souls led away by us, of friends and dear ones whom we have encouraged to mock at religion or to live in deadly sin? It will be more frightful than any torment, to know that we have cast away others' happiness. Let us remember death and what comes after death while there is yet time, lest we and our friends meet again only to curse each other. 29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. Holy Scripture is a sufficient guide. If we walk by its light we shall lead a godly life here, and reach God's presence hereafter. God has done His part in warning us, we must take heed of His gracious calls to repentance. Let me, O Lord, give ear while it is yet time. I have these Divine books in my hands, but I have not yet given heed to them as I ought. 30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. People often make this mistake. They say, "If I saw a miracle I should be converted. But God bids us trust Him with our hearts at once, and not wait for wonders and signs to be wrought. If such persons did see a miracle, they would find something to cavil at in it. Repentance is not caused by seeing marvels, but by God's Spirit changing the heart. 31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. No, for as matter of fact they were not persuaded when Jesus Himself rose. Faith is content with the evidence which God gives us in His Holy Word, it is enough if we choose to go by it. Weigh now this picture which Jesus has drawn of the life and death of one who lived only for his own pleasure, and pray Him to keep you from such a life and such an end. Our Saviour has lifted a corner of the curtain which hangs over the unseen world, not to make all clear, but to stir us up to fear and hope. 436 Forgiveness must not be weary. [S. LUKE XVII. CHAPTER XVII. 1. Christ teacheth to avoid occasions of offence. 3. One to forgive another. 6. The power of faith. 7. How we are bound to God, and not he to us. II. He healeth ten lepers 22. Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of man. THEN said it unto the he is, but that THEN said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that come! In the world as it is souls are led into sin and lose their innocence every day, yet God's justice will punish those who are the seducers. In spite of all the confusion of the world sin will bring punishment, and those who lead others wrong will have greater condemnation. Do your best to guard simple souls from evil. God has put them into your care, and will avenge your neglect of them. 2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. It would be terrible to be cast into the sea with a great weight dragging one down to the bottom. Far more terrible to be cast into hell with the weight of another's ruin on one's conscience. Keep me, O God, from destroying the faith, or purity, or honesty of any one soul. I know if I do this Thou wilt take heavy vengeance for it. 3. ¶ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. When you are vexed or injured by any one God bids you "take heed to yourself." He would have you not rage and storm, but tell the offender quietly of his fault, and be ready and glad to receive his apology. Remember how much need you have of pardon yourself. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Do not let his faults tire you out. God has put up with an immense amount from you, so you should have great forbearance in your turn. Never lose hope of any one. God's Spirit may be beginning a gracious work, you may yet see a joyful fruit of your patience with him. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. We also must say this. Increase in us that temper which looks at the invisible, which can forgive any injury, which trusts always in VER. II.] We are Unprofitable Servants. 437 God's help, which despises the delights of sin. Faith is Thy gift, 6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. The tree which I would pluck up is my own pride, which is a barren harmful tree, taking up all the good soil of my heart and towering above everything else there. I should like to see it uprooted and cast into the sea of God's infinite mercy, and no more thought of. When will my faith avail for this? 7. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8. and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? We are God's servants depending entirely upon Him, and all we can do for Him or for our brethren is no more than our bounden duty. The servant after his work in the field got ready and waited at his master's dinner. So we should apply ourselves readily to whatever God gives us to do. This world is meant for work; we shall have all eternity to rest in. 9. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. What does God owe us if we have bestowed alms, forgiven offences, kept from any sin? Nay, it is all on the other side. We owe Him infinitely for His mercy. It is our highest privilege to be the servants of such a Master and to do His work well. Our works are His gifts. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants : we have done that which was our duty to do. I owe every I heartily recognise that I am an unprofitable servant. thing to God's goodness. If I devote to Him my whole soul, and Dody, and means, and time, I am only paying Him back His own, and I cannot do this without His help. Let me only do my duty, and trust to Him for a reward. His mercy begins and ends all. II. ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Our Lord on His way to His Passion still had miseries. Wherever He came He did good. thought for human Nay, He doubtless 438 Ten Lepers healed. [S. LUKE XVII. planned His journey so as to meet and relieve such and such poor sufferers and sinners. His own pleasure never guided His movements, but His Father's will and our good. 12. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: It is something to feel our unworthiness. That is the first step towards the cure of our souls, to know our own state and feel its wretchedness. God is spotless purity and I am vile. How can I dare to approach Him! the lowest place is the fittest for me. 13. And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And the next step is to cry earnestly for help. While I have time, while God invites me and the day of grace lasts, I will cry to Him and say, O mighty Saviour and wise Guide, have mercy on me and cleanse my heart; I cannot overcome temptation without Thy special help. Thou alone canst make me clean. 14. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. Further, I must obey His voice. Though reason may not be fully satisfied, I will act upon faith, and do what He bids me, not doubting the issue; and thus before long I shall find with joy that my heart is lighter and my sins gone. These men saw no change in themselves, yet they took the journey which Jesus bade them take, and on the way they found recovery. Such is the blessing on simple obedience. 15. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, What remains but to be thankful for His mercy to us, to praise and glorify God Who has delivered us from the devil's tyranny? Those who have been brought back to the fold by God's mercy ought to praise Him all their life for His goodness. 16. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. A Christian will worship God with heart, and with tongue, and with reverence of body too. He will delight to come to the Holy Communion, which is the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and there fall down before Jesus Christ, Who is spiritually present, and pour out all his gratitude for the past and good resolutions for the time to come. 17. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18. There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. How the Kingdom of God comes. VER. 23.] 439 All of them felt their misery, and cried for mercy, and went to seek for a cure, but only one came back to give thanks. Our Lord seems to wonder at their ingratitude, yet it is too like our own case. How earnestly we pray for some deliverance! We cry out against temptation or suffering, and yet when the Lord has brought us through we forget all that He has done for us. Let me now at least proclaim glory to Thee for all the mercies which Thou hast shown to me. 19. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. I will rise up and lead a new life, not forgetting what I have been, but thanking God daily for His mercy, and hoping to avoid future pollution by His strength. Let my faith in His love be firm, and I shall be able to lead a new life. 20. ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: God's kingdom requires the eyes of faith to see it. Those whose hearts are set on this world take no notice of it. To them the world's power and splendour are the only worthy objects. They despise prayer, and faith, and reverence, and the concerns of the heavenly kingdom; but the believer sees things in the light of God's Word. 21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. It is within us, it is rooted in faith and love, it requires a changed heart, and flows out from within in all manner of good works. Indeed God's kingdom has a place and name in the world, but still it cannot be understood by any who are not inwardly prepared to receive it. Let the heavenly King reign in our hearts, and we shall bring in many to be fellow-citizens with us. 22. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. These are the days of which Jesus spoke. Faith has grown weak, and love grown cold, and we desire earnestly that God would manifest Himself as in former days, and restore us to spiritual life again. Once Jesus Christ was the Light and Strength of believers, would that we could see such days again. "Come and comfort them that mourn, Come as in the ancient days." 23. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. Impatience must not lead us to forsake God's Church and join this or that sect; we are safest in the old way, which has sufficed for so many generations before us. Let us remain in the Church, but yet strive with all our power to promote true devotion in it. We are best here, where God has dealt mercifully with us so long. |