The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 297

without self-denial, without the fear of God, without the restraining, solemnlZmg thoughts of death and judgment, and the awful world boyond the grave. The way is broad, the Lord says-spacious in its wide extent ; it col"ers the whole world, the whole range of human life, save only one narrow path. Many ways converge into it-ways corning from many different quarters, far apart at their outset, very unlike in their circumstances, in the country through which they pass; but all meeting in the one broad way. Many travellers pass along it, differing widely from one another-old and young, rich and poor, learned and ignorant; but all &like in this: they have forgotten the prayer which the Lord himself had taught them. They never say, "Thy will be done;" or, if they say it, certainly they never think of it; it never enters into their l.Jearts; it does not exert the least influence upon their lives. "Our will be done," they say in their hearts-our will, weak it may be, wavering, ill-directed, ignorant of the true end of life ; but to follow one's own will needs no painful effort, and so men prefer it to the holy will of God. And they pass on, heedless and thoughtless for the most part; some of them now and then hesitating, wondering what the end will be, hall inclined to try the one narrow path, but driven back again by the press of the crowd; a few here and there drawn by some constr&ining power, tearing themselves away, faltering at first, then resolutely choosing the narrow way ; but the most still moving onwards, all in the same direction, till the gate is reached at last-the gate that is eel, across the road at the journey's end. That gate is wide; it can receive a multitude, They reach it, they pass through it; a few are drawn violently back, plucked, as it were, out of the fire at the very last ; others are full of trembling anxiety, disturbed by many donbts and fears, but yet they pass on. The most end their journey as they began it, moving on with the crowd, thinking nothing of the future. They pass through that ,-ide gate; and oh! what lies beyond it? Death, the Bible tells us-eternal destruction from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his might; the great outer darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. (2) Therefore the Lord bids Uii enter in at the strait gate; in his tender love for our souls he condescends to show us the way, entering there himself. Few find it, but the Lord Jesus is with those few. He is their Guide; his cross goeth before them; they follow him in trustful faith, though often with much fear and trembling, sometimes with many anxious doubts. For the path is very narrow ; it is he=ed in on each side with difficulties and dangers. Many side-paths open out from it; they seem sometimes to follow the same general direction, but a slight divergence at first often leads very far astray. They are sometimes very tempting; they look smoother, easier, pleasanter, than the one narrow way. There is need of much careful thought, much self-restraint, to keep the right path; it is steep, sometimes very rugged, leading ever upwards. Few find it. Sometimes, in moments of depression, they seem to us very few indeed; but we remember that when Elijah thought himself alone, God could tell him that there were seven thousand faithful men in Israel. And if they are but few, they are the followers of the Lamb, "called, chosen, faithful" He himself is with them, cheering, comforting, strengthening them. The narrow path is often a vale of weeping-there is much sorrow, many trials; but there is much comfort. The Lord is with his followers; therefore" they go on from strength to strength, a.nd at the last unto the God of gods appe.areth every one of them in Zion." For at the end of the narrow path lies the strait gate. It is strait; there is need of self-denial, diligence, holy thoughtfulness, even to the last. It is strait; but there is room for all to enter in who have chosen the service of Christ; for he has passed thrnugl, that strait gate himself, and he will open it wide to hie followers. It ia strait; but it leadeth nnto life-to that life which is indeed worth living; the ever- lasting life with God in heaven. For the strait gate of the parable is, indeed, the pearly gate of the golden city; there shall enter the saints of God, ten thousand times ten thousand, when the fight with sin and death is over, and the redeemed of the Lord, more than conquerors through the precious blood, go up with singing to Zion into the city c,f the living God. 2. The inftuena of false teachers. (1) Their description. Few find the narrow way. There is one true Guide; there are many false guides; there is neoo of thought and prayer. We m1111t not be led about by divers and strange doctrines; :,,e mWit not believe every spirit ; we must try the spirits. False teachers come in .iLccp's clothi11g; they put on tLe propLet'H dr1;ss; they are fair-speaking ; they ensnare girnr,le souls. '!'here have been false teachers in every age; blind guides, like the on. vu.1-29.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 201