toward me in all my times of trial, and I will reward you." Such was, such is, the gracious, considerate, generous Master. " His anger is 110 slow to rise, So rendy to abate." It is the flying shadow which the wind-driven cloud caste upon tlie field, chased by tb~ bastenin~ sunshine. "0 slow to strike and swift to spare!" mi~ht well have been written of hnn. Can it be said or sung of us, in our relations with one another? 13ut the main truth here is- III. 'l'HE REWARD OF FITIELITY IN TnE MASTER'S SERVICE. Our Lord wished to as.~ure bis disciples that he was by no means unmindful or unappreciative of their fnitbfulness; and be found the best proof of this in their constancy toward himself in hi_s timrs of trouble. Through all poverty, all persecution, all desertion, all apparent f~ilure, they had been true and loyal-they had shared his sorrows, had kept step with h11n through the dark shadows; they had ministered to his bodily necessities (John 1v. 8), and (so far as they could) bad sympathized with him in his spiritual conflicts, "Ye are they who ha'°'e continued with me in my trials." And what a reward he wa~ prepared to giYe them (vers. 29, 30) ! Not understanding these words literally, we take it that their Lord held out before them: 1. Fulness of joy. "Eat and drink at my table." 2. Signal honour. "Sit on thrones." 3. Large and abiding power and influence. "I appoint unto you a kingdom." 'l'his promise has been already fulfilled, though in a different form from that which they then expected-in the exalteii privilege of being the first to publish the gospel of his grace to mankind; in the glorious work of writing those memorials and letters which show no sign of age and are esteemed the one absolutely invaluable literature of the world; in the celestial joy, dignity, influence, which they have long inherited.. (1) What are the best proofs of loyalty we can give? 'fhese are (a) showing tender sympathy and untiring helpfulness towards his peoplo (see Matt. xxv. 40); (b) having continual rep:ard to his will in all the duties and details of our life (see John xiv. 15, 21, 23); (c) being practically concerned for the progress of his kingdom. (2) What is the reward he will grant us'! A goodly measure of joy,-of sacred joy in worship, fellowship, work, life; of honour,-the esteem which purity and love rarely, if ever, fail to win; of quiet power,-the holy and blessed influence which spiritual beauty and earnest testimony exert on heart and life, which they transmit from generation to generation. 'fhis reward here; and hereafter joy, honour, power, such as we must wait to :;1Je and must resolve to experience,-O.
Vers. 31, 32 (first part).-The worth of man, These verses afford incidental but valuable evidence of the surpassing worth of the human spirit, and should help us to feel of how much greater account are we ourselves than anything that merely belongs to us. This is brought out by- L THE DESIGNS THAT ABE LAID AGAINST us. It was evidently in a very solemn and earnest strain that Jesus said," Satan desired to have you [plural], that he may sift," etc. The evil one longed with eagerness, and strove with strength, to pass the apostles of Christ through the sieve of temptation, that he might compass their overthrow. And Pekr, at a later hour, tells us that that is his attitude and habit in regard to all Christian disciples (1 Pet. v. 8). We may take it that: 1. All the unholy intelligences of the spiritual realm are bent on securing our overthrow. 2. In this malign intention they are supported by human agents. And this, not only because evil naturally propagates evil, and because the wicked feel stronger and more secure as they are more numerous, but because they recognize the value of one human spirit and the advantage secured by gaiuing it to their side. Hence there is a deliberate and determined design often made UT)on the individual man by the forces of evil. This is a fact by no means to be over- l~okcd. As we go on our heavenward way there may be an ambush laid for us at any, point; at auy time strong spiritual foes may do their utmost to contrive our fall.. 'l'he possibilities of evil and of ruin a._re manifold. _We ma~ fall by error an~ unbe_hef, by pride, by selfishness, by worldliness and vamty, by mte~ptlrance or l!31purity, by departure in spirit from the fear and love of God. There 1s room, there 1s reason, for vigilance on the i,art of him who bolieves himself well on the way toward or even nearing the gates of the celcstia.l city, OH. xxn. 1-71.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 221
IJ. Tm: BOLIOITUDE OF oun SAVIOUR ON OUR BEHALF. "I have prayeu for th~o." 'l'ho strnin of our Lord's address, "Simon, Simon," and the fact of his intercedin" rm Pater's bohalf, speak of a tender solicitude on his part for his disciple. Jesus k~c,v well all Peter's infirmities; but he also knew how ~rdent)y he co1;1ld love, how devotedly he could serve, how mmh lie could be. Henco the mtens1ty of bis desire that he would not be overcome. And for this reason we may be sure that our Lord is re"ardin" 118 all wit~ a Divine interest. ~e knows the worth o~ any and every human spirit-how much 1t can know and can enJoy; whom and what 1t can love; what graces it can illus- trute, and what truth adorn; what influence it can instil; what good, and even rrrcat w01k it can accomplish for God·and man. He knows also what sorrow it may '"'brio,; upon itself, what shame, what ruin; and also what irreparable injury it may clo. W; need not hesitate, but should accustom ourselves to think that Jesus Christ is rre1ardin<> us with a very tendel' intel'cst; is followio~ the choices we are making and tu.;' cour,; we are pursuing with holy and loving solicitude; is grieved when he sees us wander from the way of wistlom, rejoices in us and over us when he sees us take the upwartl path. III. THE REALITY OF OUB UUMAN RESPONSIBILITY, Jesus Christ prayed that Peter', faith might not fail. And it diJ not-we should naturally expect. But in part it did. It did not utterly break down as that of Judas did, but it failed to keep him loyal in a very trying hour, It did not save him from the act of denial and from the sorrow which succeeded the sin. It did not in any way relieve the apostle of his intlividual responsibility. He continued to" bear his own burden," as every man must. Not the very-highest privilege, not even the intercession of the Lord himself, will relieve us of that. It must rest with us, in the last resort, whether we will strive and win, or whether we will yield and be lost.-C.