Him an opportunity of speaking to them about their own souls, which He did not fail to employ. He seized the event, as His manner was, and made a practical use of it. He bade His , informants look within, and think of their own state before God. He seems to say, " What though these Galileans did die a sudden death P What is that to you P Consider your own ways. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish."
Let us observe, for one thing, in these verses. Sow much more ready people are to talk of the deaths of others than their oum. The death of the Galileans, mentioned here, was probably a common subject of conversation in Jerusalem and all Judsea. We can weH. believe that all the circumstances and particulars belonging to it were continually discussed by thousands who never thought of their own latter end. It is just the same in the present day. A murder, — a sudden death,-*a shipwreck, or a railway accident, will completely occupy the minds of a neighbourhood, and be in the mouth of every one you meet. And yet these very persons dislike talking of their own deaths, and their own prospects in the world beyond the grave. Such is Kuman nature in every age. In religion, men are ready to talk of any body's buisiness rather than their^ own.
The state of our owa souls should always be our first concern. It is eminently true that real Christianity will always begin at home. The converted man will always think first of his own heart, his own life, his own desiortBy and his own sins. Does he hear of a suddeir deaiii P He will say to himself, " Should I have been found ready, if this had kappened to mef — ^Does he hear of some
LT7KE, CHAP. XIll. VER. 1 — 5. 109
awful crime, or deed of wickedness P He will say to himselT, *' Are my sins forgiven P and hare I really repented of my own transgressions P " — Doeshehear of worldly men running into every excess of sin P" He will say to himself, "Who has made me to differ P Whiat has kept me from walking in the same road, except the free grace of God P " May we ever seek to he men of ibis frame of mind I Let us take a kind interest in all around us. Let us feel tender pity and compassion for all who suffer violence, or are removed hy sudden death. But let us never forget to look at home, and to learn wisdom for ourselves from all that happens to others.
Let us observe, for another thing, in these verses, how tirangly our Lard lays down the universai necessity of re- pentance. Twice He declared emphaticatty, " Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.''
The truth here asserted, is one of the foundations of Ghrisiianity. " All have sinned^ and come short of the glory of God." All of us are bom in sin. We are fond of sin, and are naturally unfit for friendship with God. Two things are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every one of us. We must repent, and we must believe the Gospel. Without repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Ghrist, no man can be saved.
The nature of true repentance is clearly and unmis- takeably laid down^ im Holy Scripture. It begins with knowledge of sin. It goes on to work sorrow for sin. It leads to confession of sin before God. It shows itself before man by a thorough breaking off from sin. It results in producing at habit of deep hatred for all sin. Above all, it is inseparably connected with lively faith in