And, however self-denying the office to which we are called may be, we are to discharge it instantly, without deference or regard to any human being. But many who hear the Gospel, and acknowledge their obligation to obey it, are yet kept back, from a mistaken idea, that respect even for a father, and that father in the most trying circumstances, will justify a delay in obeying the call of God. In saying, " Suffer me first to do" any thing under heaven, they actually rebel against God; who commands us " to seek^rs^ the kingdom of God and his right- eousness," and to " hate even father and mother" in comparison of Christ c.j
The third professes a willingness to follow Christ, but pleads for permission to delay it —
[It is probable that the person who desired to " go home and bid farewell to his friends" had in his view the history of Elisha, who had made this request to Elijah, and received his permission to execute his wishd. But the danger which this man would encounter was incomparably greater than Elisha's ; for he might be sure that his friends would exert all their powers to divert him from his purpose.
A similar mistake proves fatal to multitudes at the present day. They wish to conciliate the regards of their earthly relatives, and for that end subject themselves to temptations which they are not able to withstand. Their friends know not how to give them up to follow a course which, to say the least, is so unpopular, and, with respect to this world, unproductive also ; and, in order to retain their hold of their vacillating friend, they use every effort of intimidation, of raillery, of con- tempt : and thus they prevail on the unstable Christian to re- linquish his holy profession, and to go back again to the world.]
These several characters will appear in their true light, whilst we consider,
II. The appropriate answers successively addressed to them —
To the first, our Lord sets forth the difficulties attendant on the Christian life —
[The man, it should seem, had expected little but outward prosperity ; and our Lord informs him how unfounded this expectation was ; since he himself, though Lord of all, was destitute of every earthly accommodation: and it could not be expected that " the servant should be above his Lord." The same would I say to those who are forward to engage in a profession of religion, and to number themselves amongst the
c Luke xiv. 26 d 1 Kings xix. 20.