If we have accepted Christ's invitation, we shall keep the angels' song in our minds, striving to make it the rule of our every-day lives; then shall we indeed show that we have entered into His kingdom: and we may do so. Why should not each one of us glorify God in the highest, by carrying on his work of "peace on earth, and good-will to man." It is a noble work to do, and the manner of doing it is made clear membering its object and motive, the glory of our God in the happiness of his creatures. Surely it is our most reasonable service."

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But is it enough to determine to obey the call? It is; for, if we are sincere in our desire, we shall seek the help of God, and He has pledged his word that He will not refuse his Holy Spirit to those who ask it. To feel our need is our safety. A proud and careless mind is our ruin.

XLVII.

LUKE XIV. 25-32.

Jesus left the house of the Pharisee who had bidden him and many others to eat bread on the sabbath-day. Many had sat down with him to the rich man's table, and there they had found provided for them good things they had not thought of. The master of the house and his guests had been taught by the Son of God himself what manner of spirit should guide them in the common affairs of life. He who had bidden the guests to his house had been shewn that even of this thing the Lord God took knowledge, and prepared his rewards for those who shared their abundance with the needy; and they who, as guests, sought out for themselves the highest places, had been taught that each time they thus indulged the pride of their hearts they were hindering themselves in their way to heaven,

Luke xi. 13.

for that it was the unchanging law of God,-that "whosoever exalteth, (or setteth himself up) shall be abased, (brought down) and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted."

This Sabbath-day feast had been made by one of the chief Pharisees, we may believe for the refreshment of those who had been attending the public worship of God, and the Lord Jesus had repaid the invitation which had brought him there by a parable, in which was set forth the invitation which God, the Great Father and Lord of all, freely gave to all. The mercies of God in Christ, had been pictured to them by a Great Feast, and they had been warned how few of the many invited would accept the invitation.

Now the Lord Jesus left the house of the Pharisee,

LUKE xiv. 25, 26. "And there went great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

Or, as St. Matthew expresses it in chap. x. 37, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me."

Verse 27. "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

This last verse explains the one that goes before it. None who were not willing to suffer even as Christ himself suffered, need now follow him, for He was going up to Jerusalem to be delivered into the hands of his enemies; and torture and death and imprisonment must soon try the love and faith of those who called themselves his friends.

Jesus turned and spoke to the crowds who followed him. In pitying kindness He warned them not rashly to follow him. To be his disciple was no matter of opinion only. He who would now really follow him must be ready to give up all the sweets

of life as things that had no longer any value; He would not deceive them; each one who now declared himself to be his disciple might be said to act as if he hated every person and thing he naturally loved, yea, and his own life also, for he not only threw himself and all belonging to him, into the greatest danger, but he would find that friends and life itself would be wrested from him as soon as men knew that he was the true follower of Jesus.

This is plainly the meaning of those words, "If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." We know that the religion of Christ is a religion of love," and this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also." * We know that the last earthly thought of Jesus, in his dying agonies, was tender care for his mother; yet his love for her never for a moment had power to keep him back from the work He had come to do, though it caused grief, as "a sword, to pierce through her own soul."+ And now He warned the crowds who followed him, not to begin a warfare in which all must be losers but those who were ready to give up all, love, life, every thing dear to the heart of man. We shall soon see how greatly this warning was needed; each step towards Jerusalem now, brought them nearer to the Cross and the grave, the hour was at hand when each man's faith was to be tried as mettle is tried in the furnace.

Let them stop now and consider whether they were able and willing to finish what they pressed forward to begin. They were prudent enough in the common affairs of life, let them be as prudent in this, the greatest affair of all.

Verses 28-33. "For (said our Lord,) which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth

* 1 John iv. 21.

† Luke ii. 35.

the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."

By these two parables our Saviour taught the people to count the cost before they took to themselves the name of his disciples, and not to rush into the dangers which were gathering round those who followed him, till they had sought and were assured of that faith in him, and love for him, that would make them willing, for his sake, to give up all other ties.

Verse 33. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

It is plain that the Lord Jesus was teaching men to doubt their own strength. He seemed to say to them, "Begin not a struggle which ye are unable to carry through, till ye are convinced of your weakness, then will ye seek the higher power of the Spirit of God, which if ye ask, ye shall surely receive, and so be enabled to conquer." *

The warning concerns us, even as it concerned the first followers of Christ. Blessed be God, who has, in this our day, so controlled the power of Satan's kingdom, that we may now take to ourselves the name of Christian without bringing any danger upon ourselves or upon those belonging to us; but in each true Christian there must still be the spirit of a martyr. Each man who would follow Christ must still do so with his whole being, and, if he does so, he will love nothing apart from him; "wife,

*Verse 32, and xi. 13.

child, parent, brother, sister, yea, and his own life also," will be loved and prized in Him as His gifts, and as still belonging to Him. As His, they will be doubly dear: In comparison with Him, nothing.

It is impossible that in our own strength we can thus overcome the strong creature life that is in us, that fills us with fear for all that is painful, and with desire for all that is pleasant to the flesh. As little can a king with ten thousand men conquer another king who cometh to battle against him with twenty thousand.

Therefore our wisdom is to seek the strength that Christ himself gives. Humbly, earnestly, believingly to entreat that power may be given us, and so shall we prevail.

The Lord Jesus ended his warning by repeating once again, words He had spoken long before to the people, from the mountain in Galilee; * and again, at a later time, after his Transfiguration.†

Verses 34, 35. "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Let us hear, and take heed how by rashly pretending to religion, we bring dishonour upon the cause. Let us humbly, quietly, earnestly seek the Spirit of God to change the very nature of our hearts, then shall we be like salt that prevents corruption in all around it. High and holy is the Christian's calling, it must be the true living desire of his heart to follow it wherever he is, whatever he be, otherwise he will do good to no one, and bring disgrace upon himself.

Prayer.

Almighty God, who dost invite us to partake of the blessings

*Matt. v. 13.

Mark ix. 50.