The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 281

its youth and its prime. Most of these, perhaps nearly all, have fallen, and they are as the last leaf upon the wintry bough. "They are all gone, the old familiar faces," is the plaintive strain of their discourse; and some who still live have drifted a.way from them in space or in spirit. There is no one left who can go back with them in thought and sympathy to the old times, the memory of which is so pleasant, and which they would fain revisit with the friends of youth and childhood. Age is apt to be very lonely, and it has great need of a Divine Companion who does not pass away, who "abides," who is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." V. ITS SPECIAL LIMITATION. We all know that there may not be many days left in which we can bear witness for our Lord and his gospel. But the aged know that there can not be many more left to them. So much the more, therefore, as they see the night approaching when they can work no more for their Master, may they well desire to be and to do all that still lies in their power. Every hour is golden to him to whom but few remain. And because the opportunities of serving men here on earth are narrowing perceptibly day by day, the aged may earnestly entreat their Lord to be near to them, and to let his grace rest upon them, that their last days may be full of fruitfulness as well as of peace and hope. VI. ITs NEARNESS TO DEATH. We wish not only to "live unto the Lord," but also to "die unto the Lord;" to honour Dim in the manner of our death as well as by the spirit of our life. They who feel that the evening shadows are gathering, and that the night of death is near, may well wish for the near presence of the upholding Saviour, with whom they will go tranquilly and hopefully through the last darkness. "Abide with us," they say; "be with us as we take the last steps of onr earthly journey, go down with us into the deep waters, attend us till we reach the heavenly shore," "Ok, meet us in the valley, When heart a.ud flesh shall fail, And softly, safely, lead us on, Until within the veil; When faith shall tum to gladness, To find olll'Belves with thee, And trembling Hope shall realize Her full felicity." c. Vere. 33--43.-Sense and spirit: the Resurrection. The story of the Resurrection in its relation to the disciples of our Lord suggests to us thoughts concerning- I. THE TBIU:MPB OF THE SPIRIT OVER THE FLESH. These two disciples who had walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and who persuaded the mysterious Stranger to remain because the day was far gone, and subsequently spent some time in earnest converse with him, now hastened baclc to Jerusalem (ver. 33). This was quite contrary to their intention when they set out from the city; it was not in the natnral order of things to start out again on a long two-hours' walk after the fatigues of that eventful day. But their minds were so enlarged, their hearts so filled with joy, their souls so stirred with animating and vivifying hope, that they could not remain where they were; they must impart the transporting and traneforming tidings to the crushed and sorrowing brethren they had left behind them that afternoon. It was late and dark, and (when they thought of it) they were tired. But what were these considerations? They were things not to be entertained for a moment, they were a mere feather's weight in the scale; and we mny be certain that they set off to Jerusalem with a much lighter step in the evening, and far more a.laority of spirit, than they left that city in the afternoon of the day. In one sense" we a.re but dust and ashes," but" animated clay;" our soul is subject to cnrtain limitations from its close connection with the body. Yet can the spirit triumph nobly over the flesh. Let but the kindling truth come down from heaven, let the Divine band but touch the secret springs of the soul, and all our bodily sensations and our lower instincts go down and disappear. Fatigue, loss, danger, death itself, is nothing to a soul alight with the celestial fire. A new hope, a new faith, a new purpose, can carry the weary frame a.long the dusty road of duty, or up the steep ascent of arduous or dangerous achievement, better than W1gels' wings. Our true self is not the tabernacle of the flesh, but the indwelling and victorious spirit.  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [cH. xx1v, 1-53,