ment, when temporal sufferings shall be compensated by eternal joy, and they who were not ashamed of their crucified Saviour before men, shall find that He will not be ashamed of them, before God. CHAPTER IX. FEB. 9, JUNE 8, Oct. 6. AND he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here which shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. 'And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud 2 As these three Apostles were to witness his agony, he thus graciously prepares their minds to bear, in faith, the sight of that humiliation, by first permitting them to behold the glories of his transfiguration. 7 7 This cloud of glory, like the mysteries of the Gospel, veiled the presence of the mighty Lord. The command-"Hear Him"-proves, that the Law and the Prophets yield their authority to Christ. Of the Prophets, he is the fulfilment of the Law, the perfection. that overshadowed them: 10 The most unlearned Christian knows, that as Christ rose from the dead, so shall we rise. Blessed be His word! 10 And they kept that saying of him. And when he came to his disciples he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and, running to him, saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them! And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples. that they should cast him 19 Who shall wonder that he was out; and they could not. indignant, when after seeing so many 19 He answereth him and miracles, they yet doubted his power. saith, O faithless generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and, when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him. that believeth. "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house his dis 24 How often do we need this prayer, for strengthened faith, in our hour of need, even when we are looking to God for deliverance. 27 It is only by the word and spirit of Christ, that we can be raised, calm and free, from the agitating fears of a worldly course, and a troubled mind. ciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 O what hours of deep and fervent prayer did the Saviour give, to gain help in the great work he had undertaken. 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting. And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and, after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. And he came to Capernaum: and, being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace for by the way they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and, when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive one of such 37 He teaches the necessity of a child-like readiness in receiving the mysteries of the Gospel, and obeying its precepts. children in my name, receiveth me and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a 41 The religion of Christ is a religion of motives. It is not the extent of a kindness, but the motive which actuates it, by which it will be judged of God. 42 They who to show their contempt of religion, despise its ordinances, its ministers, and its followers-would do well to heed this warning. millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire 49 As, under the law, every meat 43 Whatever is wrong in our hearts and conduct, though dear to us as a hand, or an eye, must be removed. is not quenched. 49 For is good but if the salt have offering was to be seasoned with salt, so must we be influenced by the graces of God's Spirit. That it is, which must purify us-preserving us from the corruptions of the world. 50 He reminds his ministers especially, that they are as the salt of the earth.-They are themselves to be pure, and to save others from the corruptions of the world around them. CHAPTER X. FEB. 10, JUNE 9, Oct. 7. AND he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judea, by the farther side of Jordan; and the people resort unto him again and, as he was wont, he taught them again. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this pre 5 Some search the Scriptures, only to find difficulties at which they may carp and cavil. This is to tempt God -for these Scriptures are his gift. cept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 Woman owes her present rank in society to the beneficial influence of the Gospel *. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. 13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch man. 13 They believed virtue to be in his very touch. He deduces a general instruction from that belief †. * Where Christianity is unknown, woman's is a degraded lot. It was left for the Gospel to place her as the intellectual and moral helpmate of This forms an added motive for her grateful piety. God himself enjoins upon man a consideration for the welfare and happiness of his wife above even the highest natural duties which had before devolved upon him.(See Acts viii. 16.) You will recollect that this passage of scripture is introduced into 15 A good mind, the wider be its range of knowledge, cherishes the more humble and childlike simplicity, in receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of God. them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the 25 This proverbial saying expresses kingdom of God! 25 It is extreme difficulty. easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With 18 Our Saviour teaches this person that, if he really considered him so good, he ought at once to acknowledge him as the Lord. Matt.xix. 17. 24 Mark the gracious limitation to the danger of riches! Not the possession of them, but the trusting in them, makes it hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven*. our baptismal service, (as an encouragement to those who are then engaged in the good work of bringing infants to Christ. Art thou rich give plenteously. Amid other luxuries which your means and station allow, do not forget the highest luxury, of doing good. Deprive not yourself of that! |