With the instances cited above may be compared in this connexion such a passage as that where Jesus, confirming the joy of the seventy disciples in the success of their mission, says : ' I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. . . . Notwith- standing in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you ; but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven ' (Lk 10''- -°).
(6) Jesus further expressed complacency with respect to the ivisdom of the Divine counsels, and as He contemplated the fruits of His tvork in the hearts of believers. Witli regard to the first point, we note that whicli St. Matthew and St. Luke record — Christ's ascription of praise to the Father who ' hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes' (Mt ll^"- il Lk j()2iir.) With regard to the second, instances abound in the Gospels. Thus Jesus testified the pleasure with which He regarded the faith of Peter, as when at the first He welcomed him, and showed him what he should yet become (Jn 1''^, cf. Lk 5'°) ; and when, towards the end of His ministry. He accepted Peter's confession (Mt 16"- '*). He showed gracious appreciation of the char- acter and devoutness of Nathanael (Jn l'""''^). Again He expressed satisfaction with the loyalty of His followers, whom He promised to reward at the time of the final consummation (;\It 19=7-29 1| Mk 1028-3» II Lk 182«-3» ; cf. Lk 2228-30, Jn IS'-'"). As He showed pleasure in the faith of His immediate disciples, so also He welcomed that of others, as when He spoke with signal ajiprobation of the devotion of Mary of Bethany (Lk 10^=), who had 'chosen the good part,' and of whose ottering of gratitude at the supper in the house of Simon the leper He said that she had wrought a good work upon Him which could not be forgotten (Mt 26'= II Mk 14«-» II Jn 123-s). He said of the simple faith of the Roman centurion at Capernaum : ' I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel' (Mt 8'" II Lk 7»). Similarly, He expressed delight in that of the Woman of Canaan (Mt 15=8). He testified concernmg the sinful woman in the Pharisee's house, that ' she loved much,' wherefore her sins.
which
many.
Iff.).
., , all forgiven (Lk . ,.
Agam, an illustration of complacency is found in the blessing pronounced by our Lord upon little ?l"Wren(Mt m^\\ Mk 10« || Lk 18's || cf. Mt \m- \\ Lk 9'"- •'8) ; while the value which He attached to their faith and devotion is clearly shown in the incident of the children in the Temple, when Jesus silenced the cavils of the Pharisees and priests, and demanded, 'Have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings tliou hast perfected praise •'. '
(Mt 21"'). Again, Jesus commended the liberality of the widow's otterin" (Mk 12«- " || Lk 21^ •*). He noted with pleasure the gratitude of the Samari- tan whom He had cured of leprosy (Lk IT'*- "), and regarded with complacency i'\cn the work of the exorcist who cast out devils in His nanie yet did not join the company of Jesus (.Mk '.i'-' Lk <P). Christ's delight in receiving sinners and acknow- ledging their faith is a conspicuous feature in the Gospels. The parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son (Lk ISS-s It Mt 18"-", Lk 15' etc. ) are full of this lesson. Lastly, that at the Judgment of the Great Day, Jesus will, as Judge, not only justify, but reward with liberal commendation and distinguished honour all faith- ful disciples, according to the service rendered by them to their Master or to their Master's servants, is the central lesson of the parables of the Pounds and Talents (Lk 19""", Mt 25='-=') and of the dis- couise on the Last Judgment (Mt 25**-").
3. Of complacency on the part of man, con- sidered as a virtue, i.e. plensure in the contempla- tion of moral and spiritual beauty, we find one notable illustration in the Gospels, in the Baptist's testimony to Jesus in Jn 3="*, where John ex- presses his pleasure in the success of Christ's ministry, and compares Jesus to (the bridegi-oom and himself to the friend of the bridegroom, who 'rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice.' Such complacency as that, sympathetic interest in the Saviour and His scheme of salva- tion, and grateful acquiescence in the will of God for man's salvation, is alone legitimate on the part of fallen man. As to complacency in view of man's own knowledge and attainments, Jesus teaches that it is wholly inadmissible. No man, in the imperfect state of this present life, has a right to be satisfied with himself. Self-complacency is a sure sign of ignorance and spiritual blindness. The penitent publican, not the complacent Phari- see, is justified of God (Lk 18"-"). The followers of Jesus must, when they have done all, confess that they are unprofitable servants (Lk 17'°'-) ; and Jesus, while generously acknowledging the faith-
of His disciples and assuring them that they shall in nowise lose their reward, expressly warns them that the last may be first and the first last (Mt W> II Mk lO^', cf. Mt 20>S).