reverently inquire until they understand what it means to have a living faith in Jeeus Christ, to enter his spiritual kingdom, and become one of his subjects; let them under- stand, among other things, that it means the cheerful and full surrender of themselves to the Saviour himself, with all that such surrender involves (ver. 33). 2. At the entrance on a public profession of personal religion. Here is a visible" Church" which we are invited to join, taking upon ourselves the Christian name, and openly avowing our attachment to our Lord; thus honouring him before men. This is a step to be taken deliberately. Before taking it, a man should certainly ask himself whether he is pre- pared to act in accordance with his profession everywhe:re, in all circles and in every sphere ; not only where he will be encouraged to do the right, but where he will be solicited to do the wrong thing; not only in the midst of genial influences, but in the throng of perilous temptations. But while these things are to be carefully taken into acccunt, there must be reckoned, on the other side, the assurance which genuine piety may always cherish of needed Divine succour. If we go forth in the Name and in the strength of our Lord to do that which is his own command, we may confidently count on his support; and with him at our right hand we shall not be moved from the path of integrity and consistency. Look the facts in the face, but include all the facts; and do not forget that among these are the promises of the faithful Friend. 3. Before under- taking any post of sacred service. It would be worse than foolish for a Christian man to go forth to any enterprise requiring an amount of physical strength, or of intellectual capacity, or of educational advantages, which he knows well he does not possess. 'l'hat would be to begin to build and to be unable to finish, to declare war with the certainty of defeat. At all times, when we are thinking of Christian work, we must carefully consider our qualifications. A wise and modest refusal is a truer sacrifice than an indiscreet and unwarrantable acceptance. But, again, let our judgment include the great factor of the Divine presence and aid, and also the valid consideration that com- petency comes with exercise, that to him that hath (uses his ea.pa.cities) is given, and he has abundance (of power and of success).-C. Ver. 26.-Christ and kindred. The circumstances under which these words were spoken will explain the strength of the language used. Jesus Christ said that he came " not to send peace on earth, but a sword," by which he meant that the first effect of the introduction of his Divine truth would be (as he said) to set the members of the same family " at variance" against one another, and to make a man's foes to be "they of his own household" (Matt. x. 34-36). By honouring and acknowledging him as the Messiah of the Jews and as the Redeemer of mankind, his disciples would excite the bitterest enmity in the minds of their own kindred ; they would be obliged to act as if they hated them, causing them the keenest disappointment and the severest sorrow. They would be compelled to act as if they hated their own life also, for they would take a step which would remove all comfort and enjoyment from it, and make it valueless if not miserable. On the relation of Jesus Christ and his gospel to human kindred, it may be said that Christianity- I. DIBALLOWB PARENTAL TYRANNY. Such unmitigated authority as the Roman law gave to the parent over the child is not sanctioned, but implicitly condemned, by Jesus (.Jhrist. No human being is wise enough or good enough to exercise such prerogative; and to yield such deference is to cede the responsibility which ow· Creator has laid upon us, and which cannot be devolved. II. DISALLOWS FILIAL WORSHIP. Such idolatrous homage as the children of the Chinese render to their parents is also distinctly unchristian; it is giving to the crea- ture what is due only to the Creator. It is to elevate the human above its lawful level. III. SANOTION!I A.ND ENJoms FILIAL DEVOTEDNESS. Our Lord himself severely con- demned the perversity of the Pharisees, who contrived to evade filial obligations by sacred subtleties (Mark vii. 9-13). And amid the physical agonies and the spiritual struggles and sufferings of the cross he found time to commend his mother to the care of" the beloved disciple." His apostles explicitly enjoined filial obedience (Eph. vi. 1). And entering into the profounder spirit of our Lord's teachin11:, we are sure that he desires of children that they should not only be formally obedient to their parents' word, but that they should be careful to render to them all filial respect in manner ; ~hould have regard to their known will, whether uttered or unexpressed; should render 36 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [oH, xiv. 1-35.
the eerl'ice of love and of cheerfulness rather than of constraint• should make their filial ministry to a.bound as parental health and strength decline, ' r,. RESERVES ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE FOB THE DIVINE REDEEMER, When Christianity is assailing a false faith:~ in the first century, a., in heathen lands to-day, it very fre- quently happens that d1sc1ples have to choose between their attachment to the earthly 11arent and their obligations t.o Christ. Then the words of Jesus Christ have a literal application; then the convert has to pass through the most severe and trying of all conflicts; he has to weigh one authority against another ; he has to make a decision which will cause grief and wrath to one whom he would fain please and honour. But much as the human parent may have been t.o him, and strong as are his claims the Divine Redeemer is more, and his claims are stronger still and stronger far. 'l'he Lord who created him (John i. 3; Col. i. 16); who redeemed him with his own blood• who sought and found and restored him; who has made him an heir of eternal life ;.'.....this Lord, who bas been upholding him by his power, and who is the one Hope and Refuge of his soul, has claims upon his obedience to which even those of a human parent are utterly unequal. And when the choice has to be made, as it sometimes has even here and now, there can be but one course which he recognizes as right; it is to choose the side and the service of the holy Saviour; meekly bearing the heavy cross of domestic severance; ear'TU!St'ly praying for the time when the human authority will be reconciled to the Divine; faithfully believing that the sacrifice which is thus entailed will bring with it, in Christ's own time and way, a large and abundant recompense (Mark J.:., 28-30).-C.