|
By Dr. MacLeod
MORNING WORSHIP.
GRACIOUS God, who hast made a
covenant of unspeakable grace and mercy with us in Christ Jesus,
and conveyed to us therein an heavenly inheritance, to the end
that we should sincerely obey His commands, which is our
reasonable service, grant that we may evermore rejoice in Thee,
and walk worthy of our holy calling, through our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN, or Psalm cviii. 1-6.
AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run:
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Thy precious time misspent, redeem;
Each present day, thy last, esteem;
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the Great Day thyself prepare.
In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noon-tide clear.
Think how All-seeing God thy ways,
Thy every secret thought, surveys.
Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long, unwearied sing
High praise to the Eternal King.
All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refreshed me while I slept.
Grant Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless life partake.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew:
Scatter my sins as morning dew:
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow:
Praise Him, all creatures here below:
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
RUTH I. 1-17.
NOW it came to pass in the days when
the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a
certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country
of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2. And the name of
the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the
name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah:
and they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3.
And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her
two sons. 4. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the
name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and
they dwelt there about ten years. 5. And Mahlon and Chilion died
also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and
her husband. 6. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that
she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in
the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in
giving them bread. 7. Wherefore she went forth out of the place
where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they
went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8. And Naomi
said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her
mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt
with the dead, and with me. 9. The Lord grant you that ye may
find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she
kissed them: and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10. And
they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy
people. 11. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters; why will
ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they
may be your husbands? 12. Turn again, my daughters; go your way;
for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have
hope, if I should have an husband also to-night, and should also
bear sons, 13. Would ye tarry for them till they were grown?
would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters;
for it grieveth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the
Lord is gone out against me. 14. And they lifted up their voice,
and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth
clave unto her. 15. And she said, behold, thy sister-in-law is
gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after
thy sister-in-law. 16. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave
thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou
goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
----------------
Prayer.
O LORD our God, Father everlasting
and full of compassion! hear from the heavens our prayers and
supplications, which we pour forth before Thy throne. In the
multitude of Thy mercies Thou hast not only created us
reasonable creatures, but also of Thine inestimable goodness
Thou hast sent the great Angel of the covenant, our Lord Jesus
Christ, to redeem us. By Him Thy wrath is taken away, the law is
satisfied, the power of death, of hell, and of Satan is broken.
Behold, when we lay in the shadow of death, in fearful darkness
of the soul, Thou madest the light of Thy gospel to shine upon
us, showing us the way to life everlasting. With these spiritual
benefits it hath pleased Thee to continue temporal blessings.
Thou hast been our hope, our fortress, and our God. Thou hast
covered us with thy feathers, and under Thy wings Thou hast made
us to trust.
Grant us, O merciful Father,
thankful hearts for these Thy manifold favours. Open our mouths
to sound forth Thy praise, and offer the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, wherein Thou dost delight. And we most humbly
beseech Thee give us unfeigned repentance for our past
unthankfulness to Thee; create in us new hearts, work in us
sorrow for our sins, and hatred of the same, and a hearty love
unto Thy righteousness, that we, being not conformed unto this
wicked world, but making thy will the order of our life, may
offer ourselves up a living sacrifice unto Thee, consecrating to
Thy glory both body and soul, with all our powers. Preserve us,
good Lord, from the thraldom of sin and the bondage of unbelief;
continue the light of Thy glorious gospel among us; purge our
land of all violence, uncleanness, oppression, and every other
evil that defiles Thine inheritance; arm us Thy servants with
Thy power, to strive against Satan, the flesh and the world, and
all things that would beguile us from our allegiance unto Thee;
that, walking in Thy paths, and obeying Thy blessed ordinances,
we may end our lives to the honour of Thy name.
O God, who hast given us Thy Holy
Scriptures for our instruction, we beseech Thee by Thy grace to
enlighten our minds and cleanse our hearts, that we, having
read, heard, and meditated upon them, may rightly understand and
heartily embrace the things Thou hast revealed. Give efficacy to
the preaching of the gospel, that through the operation of the
Holy Ghost this good seed may be received into our hearts as
into good ground; and that we may not only hear Thy word, but
keep it, living in conformity with Thy precepts, so that we may
finally attain everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
---------------
THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE.
O LORD, to whom belongeth the earth,
with the fulness thereof, and whose bountiful hand liberally
supplieth the wants of every living thing, grant that we whom
Thou hast created, preserved, and redeemed, may evermore possess
Thyself as our true inheritance, and in Thee all things, through
faith in Him who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that
we through his poverty might become rich. Amen.
HYMN.
ALL people that on earth do dwell
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are his flock, He doth us feed,
And for his sheep He doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto:
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why, the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
PSALM LXXIII. 1-20.
TRULY God is good to Israel, even to
such as are of a clean heart. 2. But as for me, my feet were
almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3. For I was
envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. For there are no bands in their death; but their strength is
firm. 5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they
plagued like other men. 6. Therefore pride compasseth them about
as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7. Their eyes
stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish 8.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they
speak loftily. 9. They set their mouth against the heavens; and
their tongue walketh through the earth. 10. Therefore his people
return hither; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them:
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in
the most High? 12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in
the world; they increase in riches. 13. Verily I have cleansed
my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14. For all
day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold I should offend against the
generation of thy children. 16. When I thought to know this, it
was too painful for me. 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of
God; then understood I their end. 18. Surely thou didst set them
in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction.
19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they
are utterly consumed with terrors. 20. As a dream when one
awaketh; so O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their
image.
ECCLESIASTES V. 8-13.
IF thou seest the oppression of the
poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a
province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than
the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. 9.
Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself
is served by the field. 10. He that loveth silver shall not be
satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with
increase. This is also vanity. 11. When goods increase, they are
increased that eat them, and what good is there to the owners
thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12. The
sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or
much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to
sleep. 13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun,
namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
SERMON XXXVI.
“THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN, WHICH
WAS CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND FINE LINEN, AND FARED SUMPTUOUSLY
EVERY DAY: AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN BEGGAR NAMED LAZARUS, WHICH
WAS LAID AT HIS GATE, FULL OF SORES,” ETC.
-- Luke xvi. 19-31.
WE are all, I dare say, more or less
familiar with the words of this story. But many of us may not
have thought upon them, nor brought home to ourselves, as we
ought to have done, Christ’s teaching as a personal thing --
just as much as if it were spoken in our own hearing by Him now,
or were addressed to us individually. Nor shall we, at this
time, receive any good whatever from the parable -- no more than
from the idlest gossip read in a newspaper -- unless we are
able, by his grace, to remember who is speaking to us in these
words, and try to understand their meaning, and to feel
responsibility for the manner in which they are received.
This parable presents to us more than one remarkable contrast,
which cannot but arrest our attention: --
1. Let us, for example, consider the
contrast between the rich and the poor man during life: “There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain
beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich
man’s table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.”
In this remarkable picture we are
attracted first by a splendid mansion, with its outer gate and
inner court, its suites of apartments, architectural
embellishments, elegant furniture -- whatever, in short is
tasteful, refined, and courtly -- with all the accompaniments of
servants and equipages. This is the house of “a certain rich
man.” we know not his name now -- that has perished; but
wherever he lived, or whoever he was, he was once well known.
Tradesmen found it profitable to have him as a customer, and
were proud in being able to announce the fact to others. Those
who were ambitious to be in “good society” were glad, no doubt,
of his acquaintance, and much gratified by a friendly greeting
from him in the way. Young men rose greatly in their own
estimation when they could tell their acquaintances how they
visited this man, and were received as guests at his table; and
they descanted upon all they saw in his splendid mansion -- how
perfect everything was done, how delicious were the wines, how
superb the plate, how choice the cooking, how numerous and
well-trained the servants, how, indeed, everything was in the
first style! And Dives himself ! so refined in manner, so
generous in his hospitality, so thoroughly the well-bred man of
the world. And to know him, and call him by some familiar name,
and be on easy terms with him, was a passport to the best
society of the neighbourhood. If any person expressed the hope
that one to whom God had been so generous, and whom He had so
richly endowed, was acquainted with his Maker, and thought of
duty, and realized his responsibility for all this rank, and
money, and influence, those pledged admirers of his excellences
were no doubt ready to defend him against insinuations from such
“cant” and “hypocrisy.” What right had any one to doubt that
Dives was as good as needs be, and sure of heaven? Could they
point to any dishonourable action he had ever done? No. Did he
not acquire his property fairly? Yes. Was there any sin in being
rich? None. What “priest” or “Pharisee” would not partake of his
cheer, and drink his wine? Very true. And if the man chose to
wear costly robes of Tyrian dye, and fine linen of Egypt, and to
fare sumptuously every day, what was wrong in all this? As for
prayers or preachings, Sunday synagogues or temple services,
these were between a man’s own conscience and God. It might be
that he gave no money to help on objects of benevolence -- or
“had too many other things to do with his money” -- or “thought
it very impertinent to be so frequently asked for it” -- or
“wished people would attend to their own business and leave him
alone” -- but who could blame him for doing with his own as he
pleased? “Dives,” so his defenders always might have alleged,
was neither greedy nor rapacious, but a kind-hearted,
gentlemanly man, who thoroughly enjoyed himself -- that was all!
Yes, that indeed was all!
And close beside his outer gate was
a man whose presence was a constant memorial of suffering
humanity. His name, strange to say, is preserved -- Lazarus. He
was covered with sores -- a shuddering sight. And these were
exposed, for the man was a pauper, and no provision made for
him: he being dependent on charity, and thus forced to witness
for his pain by mute signs of suffering. He sat at the rich
man’s gate -- for it was a place of great concourse -- a broad
gate, through which multitudes thronged; and many of those were
able to give, and some did, no doubt, give of their abundance;
while a few crumbs possibly fell to him from the rich man’s
table. But his kindest friends, after all, were the dogs, who
licked his sores; for God’s kindness is so inexhaustible, that
He has some for the hearts of the very brutes, and which is not
driven out of them, as it sometimes is from the hearts of their
masters. And Lazarus sat there day by day -- silent and alone at
night, with stars overhead, and no boon companions with him, but
the dogs only!
No one was ambitious of having
Lazarus as an acquaintance. Living or dying, what was he worth?
How men would have smiled to have quoted his opinions of things,
or talked of consulting his feelings or likings! Dives was
somebody, but who was Lazarus? Who was he? A beggar! Yes, and
something more! “Behold, now are we the sons of God! It doth not
yet appear what we shall be.” And, therefore, because it “did
not appear” to the eye of sense, few, if any, perceived that
Lazarus was a son of God, and an heir of heaven; that beneath
the rags were royal vestments; and that he had a great sum in
bank -- a treasure that waxed not old, eternal in the heavens;
that possessing nothing, he had all things; and that, not dogs,
but angels ministered to him! For Lazarus knew God, of whom
Dives was ignorant; and he trusted that God amidst his poverty,
who Dives, amidst his riches, lived without. Dives worshipped
self; Lazarus worshipped God.
2. Consider, in the second place,
the contrast which is presented between Dives and Lazarus in
their deaths.
They both died, with what relative
measure of pain or difficulty we know not. But doubtless the
death of the rich man was a much more memorable affair than that
of the beggar. The rich man had heard of a future state of
suffering or of happiness; but what preparation had he made to
escape the one and obtain the other? Did he ever think it
possible -- if he ever dared to think at all -- that God would
recognize him as a “faithful servant?” But the sickness comes,
and self-denial is forced upon him. How sad to be prevented from
going to that party, or from receiving this company; to be
obliged to be confined to his house, and to his couch; to feel
the pain and the weakness increase; to have first the suspicion,
then the certainty, that out of this house he must go, and leave
the purple for the sepulchre, and the sumptuous feast for the
worms, and go off on the long, long journey -- O! whither? And
he has no true friend to warn him; for he has selfishly
surrounded himself for years with those who were selfish like
himself, and who, therefore, would only see to it that they
would make themselves agreeable to the last; and whatever they
might say behind his back -- whatever hard and unfeeling things
-- yet before himself they would try to be all that was
pleasing; and to help him, forsooth, to be cheerful, and to
banish gloomy thoughts of death, or of God, or a future state,
and “all that sort of thing;” and rather to hear the gossip of
the day, and the politics of the government, or the scandal of
the town, and the state of trade; until, by and by, there was
much weakness, and pain, and evident approaches of decay, that
it was no longer pleasing to have anything to do with such
suffering. But at last there is a hurrying to and fro, and a
sending for the physician, for Dives is dying fast; and then the
mansion is silent, for he is lying there dead and senseless, as
a sculptured stone. And no man in the house knows now what has
become of him, if anyone asks himself the question. He has five
brothers very much like himself, and they see the body, and say,
this is our brother, and talk low and soft as if he heard them.
They speak of the evil things which he did not, and of the kind
things which he did; and remember how well and cheerful he was
on such a day, but a few weeks ago; and what he said to them the
last time they met; or how long he had been drooping; or how
rapidly he sunk; or ow well or strangely he had left his
affairs. And these same affairs gave rise to a world of talk in
the neighbourhood; and Dives, his house, furniture, money, and
five brothers, and the grand funeral, and the noble sepulchre,
are the staple of the conversation of the hour. But Dives, the
living man -- oh! miserable-- where is he? What cares he for
this babble now?
Lazarus, too, is gone! He died,
perhaps, where he had sat -- the dogs licking his silent face.
Or he died in some house -- God looking on, angels ministering,
but the world caring not. His door, perhaps, was longer shut in
the morning than usual; but curiosity being excited, the house
was entered, and the old beggar found dead. His body was got rid
of some way or other, and no one thought more about him, unless,
perhaps, the new beggar did so who occupied his seat at the gate
of the rich man’s successor, and was glad of the preferment from
a less profitable post. And the world moved on. But while the
streets of the town were busy as ever, and men bought and sold,
and made gain, as in the world before the flood; and brothers,
and sisters, and friends met, and talked about the dead -- what
a strange scene is taking place beyond the grave!
3. This would lead us, if our
present opportunity admitted of it, to consider Dives and
Lazarus in eternity.
But what words of ours dare fill up
this picture by our Lord! “And it came to pass, that the beggar
died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the
rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his
eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus
in his bosom. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy
on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger
in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
One word only: Jesus here teaches
that a man like Dives is lost; for it is his character which is
most dwelt upon here, and is presented to us as a warning. He is
lost, and his misery is represented as being very great. Now,
why was he lost? what was it which destroyed his soul? what had
he -- what did he -- which, in Christ’s judgment, was so wicked
that he selects him as a type of one most surely doomed to
perdition? It needs no reflection to notice that he is charged
with nothing of what the world calls criminal -- such as theft,
dishonour, adultery, murder, or the like. This alone is
remarkable. Nay, he is represented in his lost condition to have
had some interest in his godless brothers left behind. Nor do
any of you believe that his crime was being rich. We are not
likely, in those days, to reach that measure of infidelity in
the mammon god. Riches comprehend God’s best earthly gifts. The
man is not even described as one who spent his substance in
riotous living.
For aught that is said of him there
was nothing to offend the most delicate taste in his house --
nothing to obtrude itself offensively on the man of piety even,
who might chance to visit it. He is described merely as a rich
man, clothed in purple and fine linen, who fared sumptuously
every day. Outwardly, that was all; but inwardly, what was his
character? He lived to himself, without God! His life is summed
up in that terrible memento: “Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things.” There were good things
which he desired, and recognized as his good things and he got
them. He demanded from his father his portion of goods; and he
got his portion -- all he wished for. He wished wealth, and he
got it. He wished the purple and the linen, and Tyre and Egypt
were at his service. He wished the splendid banquet, and earth,
sea, and air furnished it; birds, and beasts, and fish were
seized, deprived of life and enjoyment, and laid before him. He
wished guests to gather round him to help him the better to
enjoy self, and to flatter self, and sympathize with self, and
to praise self; so that, in their every smile, and obeisance,
and expression of delight, he should see self reflected -- and
troops of guests arrived on the appointed day! He desired sleep,
and sleep came; a soft couch, and it was spread for him; an easy
day of luxurious repose, and the servants hushed the house in
silence, and no one disturbed him with the noise and toil of the
weary world. “Son, remember!” Go back to thy childhood, and
follow up thy history from its earliest until its latest hour.
Behold the scroll unfold itself before memory and conscience of
all the past -- read it, examine it - hast thou not got all thy
good things? Verily, thou has had thy reward!
Yes, his good things! But among the
good things longed for, prayed for, laboured for, there was no
such good thing as likeness to God, or meetness for eternity, or
perfection in love, or deepening in humility, or outgoing of a
largeheartedness to mankind, or living for others; and so these
he never got, for these he never wished. He desired no things
but such as earth and time could furnish, and these earth and
time gave! But one thing was quite forgot and quite despised. O!
horror of horrors! O! life of vanity and a lie! God was not in
all his thoughts! The living God was not known, nor loved, nor
cared for, nor sought for. The very thought of God, Maker,
Preserver, Governor, Father, was banished as being not in
harmony with the life he was living and enjoying! Dives was an
ungodly man; and it mattered not what he worshipped; whether it
was a god of the lowest lust, or most refined pleasure, if he
did not serve and worship, as his supreme good, the only living
and true God! Dives was a lover of pleasure more than a lover of
God. He loved the world and the things of the world more than
the Father! And thus, we perceive, Dives does not necessarily
represent men very rich or very poor, but all men who, whether
rich or poor, are not “rich towards God” -- all men who think
“their life consisteth in the abundance of the things they
possess,” whether they really have this abundance, or wish to
have it, or are half-mad because they have lost it, or curse God
and forsake Him because they cannot have it. He represents a
great class; and therefore it is well for us to look at him
steadily, and inspect him very closely, and see if we are
following him in the broad way.
Let us, then, ask ourselves the
question, What are our good things? or what are the things, the
possession or enjoyment of which our life consists in? Are they
such things as death cannot touch? such things as our souls will
find on the other side of the grave as well as on this? Such
things as will prove its good things millions of years hence as
well as now? Ah! Be assured that nothing can satisfy the
everliving soul but its everliving Creator -- that he who seeks
God as his eternal good, and who can be satisfied with nothing
less, will surely find Him; and to such an one it never can be
said, “Thou has had thy things,” but “Thou has and ever shalt
have Him who is goodness itself.” Hear the solemn words of the
apostle: -- “but godliness with contentment is great gain. For
we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be
therewith content. But they that will be rich” -- insist, as it
were, on being so -- “fall into temptation, and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the” -- or a
-- “root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good
profession before many witnesses. Charge them that are rich in
this world that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things
to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store
for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that
they may lay hold on eternal life;” for “This is life eternal,
to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast
sent!” O! let us be able truly to say: “The Lord is the portion
of mine inheritance and of my cup:” “Whom have I in heaven but
thee? And there is none on earth that my heart would desire
beside thee. My heart and flesh faint and fail; but God is the
strength of my heart, and portion for ever.” Amen. -- EDITOR.
THE CHILDREN’S SERVICE.
BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO
THEE.
IN the writings of one of the old
prophets, there is a very striking and beautiful passage which
says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and
having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt
the foal of an ass.” These words were spoken beforehand,
hundreds of years beforehand, of the Lord Jesus Christ. You
notice that they are very minute and exact, in the description
they give of the way in which the King of Zion was to come to
his own city. How they were brought to pass is what I am now
going to tell you.
The morning after they had made a
supper for Christ in Bethany, where Martha served, and Lazarus
sat at the table, and Mary filled the house with the odour of
the ointment which she poured on Jesus’ feet, the Lord gave a
command to two of his disciples. I do not know which two of the
twelve they were, but no doubt they were pleased with their
mission. He told them to go into the village, which was seen at
the time over against where they were standing, and bring him an
ass and a colt that they would find tied there. He said to them
to loose them without any hesitation or fear: for if any person
should ask them why they were loosing them, they were just to
answer, The Lord hath need of them, and all would be right.
Jesus knew that he had all hearts in his hands, and the best
claim to the service of his own creatures.
Having been told what to do, away
the two disciples went. When they came into the village, which
was one near Bethany, sure enough there, at a door in a place
where two roads met, stood an ass tied, and a colt also tied
beside her. The colt no doubt was the foal of the ass, standing
now beside its mother. It was quite young, and no one as yet had
ever rode on it. Seeing thus what they had been led to expect,
the disciples began at once to loose the beasts. Some people
were standing near, among others the persons to whom the ass and
the colt belonged, and they said very naturally, What are you
doing? Why are you loosing the colt? They mentioned the colt
particularly, because, I suppose, the disciples had begun with
him; and indeed, it was the young ass that was specially wanted,
though its mother was also to be brought. When the disciples
heard the question of the owners, they gave the very answer that
Jesus put into their mouths. They said The Lord needs him; and
there was not another word of objection. So they took the ass
and the colt and brought them to Jesus.
We never read of Jesus riding at any
other time. But he did not need to learn the art. And though the
colt had never been sat on before by anyone, there was no fear
of its being wild and disobedient. So when Jesus would mount it,
his disciples made a kind of saddle of their cloaks, and set him
on its back. The young colt went peacefully on under its blessed
burden, and the ass paced meekly by its side. This was the way
in which the King of Zion wanted to ride into the city. He did
not choose to be driven in a chariot, nor to get a proud
prancing horse to carry him, with a sword hanging and glancing
at his side. For he was not a king come to make war on men’s
lives, and to conquer the world by force of arms: he was a king
of truth, and was come not to slay men, but to save them. So he
came meek and lowly, wishing all to meet him not as a foe, but
as a friend. The Jews had high notions about a Christ who should
make their nation stronger than Rome, and mistress of the world;
but Jesus wished to show them that he would not fight as David
had needed to do, that he would be king of subdued kingdoms only
by subduing hearts.
By the time the things I have told
about had been done, a crowd had gathered round the place where
the Saviour got up to ride. As he moved on, they followed. Then
they became very joyfully excited, and began to make a carpet
for him as he rode along the way, by spreading their cloaks on
the road, and cutting down soft green branches from the trees,
and strewing them in his path. This led to a crowd of people
being in front of him, while a multitude followed close behind.
Then they began to sing from one of the psalms; and loud and
clear they sent up into the skies this cry: Blessed be the King
that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Shortly the procession came to the
brow of the mount of Olives, from which the city of Jerusalem
could be clearly seen, and lying near at hand. Here a strange
thing took place. Even while the shouts of praise were rising
from all around him, Jesus began to weep, not silently, but with
loud sobbings. Those near him came to learn the cause; for they
heard him say, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, would that thou hadst
known, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy
peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes! While this was
happening, it came to be known in the city that Jesus was
coming, along with a throng of followers; and another crowd
began to pour out through the gates to meet him. These also
broke branches off the palm trees, and as they moved up from the
valley and climbed the slope of the hill, waving them in their
hands, the road looked like a green wood. They took up the song,
too, when they met with those who were coming down, and turning
round with them, cried out, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed
be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of
the Lord! Glory in the highest! What a wave of joy and joyous
shout that day rolled down the side of the mount of Olives, and
through the valley where the brook of Kidron was flowing, and up
to the city gate, as Jesus rode on in lowly pomp, the Prince of
peace, in the midst of the multitudes!
The pharisees were watching all, and
they were very angry. They pretended to think that it was very
unseemly, in the disciples of one who had such claims as
Christ’s, to do such things. So they went to Jesus, and quite
hinting that he was to blame if he allowed the rejoicings to go
on, since he could put a stop to them if he liked, they said,
Master, rebuke thy disciples; tell them to give over. But Jesus
answered that he would not do so, for said he, I tell you that
if these should hold their peace, the very stones would cry out
at once.
But the most interesting thing of
all happened after Jesus had come into the city. The whole place
was quite in a commotion. The streets were filled, and people
were asking eagerly, What is all this about? who is this? Then
some would answer, It is the great prophet of Nazareth of
Galilee: it is Jesus! Meanwhile slowly, as the throng would let
him, the Saviour rode through the streets towards the temple,
and alighting from the colt, went into the courts; and finding
all sorts of merchandise in sheep and oxen and doves going on,
he drove the buyers and sellers out, and poured out the money of
the money-changers, and overturned their tables, and said, Do
not make my Father’s house which is a house of prayer, a den of
thieves. Then the blind and the lame came to him, and he healed
them. A throng of little children, too, had gathered into the
courts from which the traffickers had been driven; and taking up
the song of the older people, they began to cry out, with their
sweet little voices, Hosanna! hosanna to the Son of David. This
made the scowling priests and scribes very angry indeed. They
could not conceal their hatred. They went to Jesus, and as if in
contempt, they said, Do you hear what these are saying! They
meant to hint that he must be very silly and weak to allow a lot
of boys and girls to cry out in that way about him. But Jesus
always loved the little children. He would not let his own
disciples on one occasion frown them away. He said to them,
Suffer the little ones to come to me; by no means hinder them.
You may be sure he would not tell them to be silent, when his
bitter foes wanted him to do it. No; he answered them at once,
Yes, I hear them; and did you never read in the Scriptures, Out
of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast brought the best
praise of all? So the children still sang on, till Jesus having
looked round on all things, went away back again to the mount of
Olives. Thus ended the only day of outward triumph in Christ’s
life.
Turning again for a moment to the
prophecy to which I referred at first, I wish you to try and
understand how the events of that day did not make the
fulfilment of the prophecy. They rather repeated it, than
fulfilled it. No doubt the thing described came to pass in the
very letter; but that literal coming to pass was just a new
utterance of the prophecy. It was providence in its own way
repeating what prophecy in its own way had said. The meaning of
both was a pointing out of the peaceful, blessed, happy
character of Christ’s reign in men’s hearts, and men’s world,
when they received him. As he rode into Jerusalem, meek, lowly,
bringing salvation, and welcomed with songs, may he ride into
our hearts, and into all the earth!
QUESTIONS ON THE BIBLE STORY.
1. Which of the prophetical books of
the Old Testament contains the prophecy quoted at the beginning
of the story?
2. Where do we read in the Old Testament of any incident in
which God employed an ass in a wonderful way to do his will!
3. At what other time did Christ give a commission to two of his
disciples, giving them a sign to direct them, and telling them
what to say?
4. Can you find a prophecy where Christ is represented as riding
like a great warrior? and do you notice what singular thing is
there said about his sword?
5. Can you find a prophecy where Christ’s reign is beautifully
pictured, in figures taken from the lower animals, as a reign of
peace?
6. What psalm did the crowds around Jesus quote, when they sang
Hosannas?
7. What very joyous procession of a king and a crowd of people
into the city of Jerusalem, do we read of in the Old Testament?
8. When did the pharisees find fault with the disciples for
sabbath-breaking and when for transgressing the tradition of the
elders?
9. Can you find a verse in one of the prophets in which God’s
house is twice called a house of prayer?
10. Christ spoke of the stones crying out: who speaks of God
making children of them?
11. Where is Christ represented as a victorious rider, armed
with arrows?
ANSWERS to the preceding
questions will easily be found by consulting Zech. ix.; Numb.
xxii.; Luke xxii.; Rev. xix.; Isa. xi.; Ps. cxviii.; 1 Chron.
xv.; Luke vi. and Matt. xv.; Isa. lvi.; Matt. iii.; Ps. xlv.
----------------
Prayer.
O FATHER, Thou hast now set Thy king
upon Thy holy hill of Zion. We thank Thee that he reigns as the
Prince of peace. We pray that He may take the throne of our
hearts, and reign there. We open the gates to Him, we ask Him to
enter, we wish him to cast out all that in us is against His
rule, as He cast the traffickers out of the temple. O let the
time come soon, when His reign shall be owned in all the earth,
when all wars shall cease, and nothing shall hurt nor destroy in
all Thy holy mountain. We rejoice to think that Jesus loves the
praises of little children. We desire to sing His praises. We
would do it now, saying Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!
Salvation to our God that sitteth upon the throne, and to the
Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.
----------------
EVENING WORSHIP.
GLORIOUS God, who of Thy tender love
towards mankind hast sent Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to
take upon Him our flesh, and that in the form of a servant, and
to suffer death, even the death of the cross, for our
redemption, and that we should follow the example of His great
humility, patience and obedience, mercifully grant that this
mind may be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, that we may
both follow the example of His humble obedience and patient
suffering, and also be made partakers of His glorious
resurrection, to live with Thee for ever. Grant this for the
sake of Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN, or Psalm xliii. 1-5.
APPROACH, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
Then humbly fall before his feet,
For none can perish there.
Thy promise is my only plea:
With this I venture nigh.
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such O Lord, am I.
Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By wars without, and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.
Be Thou my shield and hiding-place;
That, sheltered near thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him, Thou hast died.
O wondrous love to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I
Might plead thy gracious name!
JOHN 1. 35-49.
AGAIN, the next day after, John
stood, and two of his disciples; 36. And looking upon Jesus as
he walked, he saith, behold the Lamb of God! 37. And the two
disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38. Then
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, what
seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being
interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou? 39. He saith unto
them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode
with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40. One of
the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter’s brother. 41. He first findeth his own brother
Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is,
being interpreted, the Christ. 42. And he brought him to Jesus.
And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of
Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation,
A stone. 43. The day following Jesus would go forth into
Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44.
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45.
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him
of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46. And Nathanael said unto him,
Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him,
Come and see. 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith
of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48.
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered
and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou
wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49. Nathanael answered and
saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the
King of Israel.
JOHN III. 1-10.
THERE was a man of the Pharisees,
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2. The same came to Jesus
by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a
teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said
unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4. Nicodemus saith unto
him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5. Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto
thee, Ye must be born again. 8. The wind bloweth where it
listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit. 9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How
can these things be? 10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art
thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
------------------
Prayer.
O LORD our God, we lift up our
hearts unto Thee, in grateful acknowledgment of all Thy mercies.
We praise Thee as the source of all blessing, full of compassion
and goodness unto the children of men. We thank Thee that Thou
hast formed us reasonable creatures, capable of knowing and
serving Thee. We bless Thee for Thy preserving care over us, and
for all our temporal enjoyments. Above all we praise Thee, O
most merciful Father, for Thy spiritual blessings in Christ
Jesus, for the Holy Spirit and His influences, for the covenant
of grace and all the precious promises thereof, for Thy word,
for the gospel ministry, and all thine ordinances. For these
benefits we bless Thee, O God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost; our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. And now, Lord, we
commit ourselves to Thee; we hope in Thy mercies, and we wait
for thy salvation. Accept our worship, and forgive our sins, in
the name of our crucified and exalted Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Thy glory, O God! is great in all
the churches, and the praises of Thy name resound in the
assemblies of Thy saints. We Thy servants would humble ourselves
before Thee. We worship Thine infinite Majesty. We celebrate Thy
wisdom, power, and goodness, that shine forth in the works of
creation and redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord. We bless
thee for all temporal and spiritual good that we continually
receive at thy bountiful hands. But more especially, with all
Thy people assembled this day, we praise Thee that Thou didst
send into the world Thy Son to save us; and having delivered Him
up for our offences, didst raise Him again for our
justification; and through His glorious resurrection hast given
us the blessed hope of everlasting life. We rejoice in the hope
of His second coming “unto salvation;” for “we know that when He
shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he
is. O Lord! May these our thanksgivings come up with acceptance
before Thy throne. Make us worthy at the last day to have part
in the resurrection of the just, and the glory of the kingdom of
heaven, whither Jesus the Forerunner is for us entered; where
now He lives and reigns, and is worshipped and glorified, with
Thee and the Holy Ghost, God blessed for ever. Amen.
MORNING AND EVENING MEDITATIONS.
MONDAY.
Morning.
And in that day shall ye say,
Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among
the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is
known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the
Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and
righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight,
saith the Lord.
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God
more than burnt-offerings.
Isa. xii. 4, 5, 6. Jer. ix. 24. Hos.
vi. 6.
Evening.
Then shall we know, if we follow
on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning;
and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former
rain unto the earth.
I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every
man his brother, saying Know the Lord: for they shall all know
me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the
Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity.
Hos. vi. 3. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34.
TUESDAY.
Morning.
And, behold, the word of the Lord
came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts:
for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown
down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I
even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And the Lord said, Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,
all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth
which hath not kissed him.
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear,
and let him be your dread.
I Kings xix. 9, 10, 18. Isa. viii.
13.
Evening.
Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as
evil-doeers, they may, by your good works, which they shall
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his
saints.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth
his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
1 Pet. ii. 12. Prov. ii. 7, 8. Ps.
l. 23.
WEDNESDAY.
Morning.
But we had the sentence of death
in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God
which raiseth the dead:
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in
whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus
Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel.
Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him.
2 Cor. i. 9, 10. 2 Tim. i. 10. 1
Thess. v. 10.
Evening.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not
have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be
innocent from the great transgression.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth
from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Ps. xix. 12, 13. 1 John iii. 7, 8,
9.
THURSDAY.
Morning.
The Jews then murmured at him,
because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among
yourselves.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me,
draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this
man give us his flesh to eat?
Jesus said, As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: he that eateth
of this bread shall live for ever.
John vi. 41, 43, 44, 52, 57, 58.
Evening.
For I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the
same night in which he was betrayed, took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat;
this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye,
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord’s death till he come.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me,
and I in him.
1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26. John vi.
56.
FRIDAY.
Morning.
Why standest thou afar off, O
Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be
taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the
covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for
they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of
his hands shall be given him.
Ps. x. 1, 2, 3. Isa. iii. 10, 11.
Evening.
Therefore seeing we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy we faint not.
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,
in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distesses,
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in
watchings, in fastings.
2 Cor. iv. 1. 2 Cor. vi. 3, 4, 5.
SATURDAY.
Morning.
He that loveth not, knoweth not
God; for God is love.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have
espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste
virgin to Christ.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
elect angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring
one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his
neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that
I hate, saith the Lord.
1 John iv. 8. 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3. 1
Tim. v. 21. Zech. viii. 17.
Evening.
And thou shalt remember all the
way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the
wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was
in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or
no.
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee
with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers
know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by
bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of the Lord doth man live.
Deut. viii. 2, 3.
You can download Week 36 in pdf
format |
