The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 220

and now meane being & happy citizen somewhere for evermore. Life under the benign 11way of thie heavenly King is not counte<l by years or decades; it is without a bound; it ie continued, J>erpetuated, in other regions of hie glorione domain. This is the "glorious gospel of the kingdom. le it well to wait for a. better? Dare we hope that, if we reject these glad tidings, we shall ever hear any that we shall accept? "Behold, now is the accepted time."-C. Vere. 2, 8.-0hristianity and woman. We have seen (eh. ii. 36-38) that woman, ln the per,;on of Anna, welcomed the infant Saviour to the world; it was most fitting that she should do so, for Christianity and womanhood have had a very close relation- ship, and undoubtedly will have even to the end. I. WHAT CHRISTIANITY OWES TO WOMAN. 1. Its Divine Author and the Object of its worship was, "as concerning the flesh," born of a woman (Gal. iv. 4). The Son of God was, in a true and important sense, the" Bon of Mary." 2. He owed the care and the training of his childhood to a human mother. 3. He received, during his active life, the generous provision of ministering women (see text); these, out of" their substance," supplied his necessities. 4. He found some of his best disciples and of his most faithful attendants in women (Matt. xxvii. 65). 5. He ha.d the comfort of the near presence of three devoted women in his last agonies (John xi:x. 25). Closer to him in that awful hour than the ruthless soldier and the taunting enemy, rendering him a silent and, sorrowful but not unvalued sympathy, stood three women who loved him for all that he was in himself and for all he ha.d been to them. 6. Last at the cross, wome'.n were first at the sepulchre (eh. x:xili. 55, 56; xxiv. 1). 7. Women were united with the apostles in the- upper room, waiting and praying for the further mani- festation of the Lord after his ascension (Acts i. 14). 8. The apostle of the Gentiles owed much to women in his abundant and fruitful labours (Phil iv. 3). 9. From that time to this, women have been rendering valuable service to the cause of Jesus Christ: the mother of Augustine, the mother of the W esleys, and many hundreds more have, by their holy and faithful motherhood, done signal service to the gospeL In these later days, moved by the Spirit of God, women have, by their writings and by ~heir "prophesyings," effected great things for the furtherance of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. And it is right that it should be so; for we have to consider- II. WHAT WOMAN OWES TO CHRISTIANITY, 1. We know what barbarism does, and fails to do, for woman. 2. We know also what Greek and Roman civilization did. and failed to do, for her; in how unsatisfactory a condition it left her; how completely it failed to raise her to her trne spiritual dignity. We know what Christianity has done and is doing for her. (1) Jesus Christ taught and enforced the transcendent value of every human soul. (2) He admitted women into his kingdom on the same terms on which he received men: "In him is neither male nor female." (3) He gave to women a sphere of honourable service in his kingdom; not only (as above) accepting their loving ministry for himself, but for his clisciples also. (4) Influenced increasingly by these ideas, the Church of Christ has been giving to woman a place of growing honour anJ usefulness; it has ma.de her the full helpmeet and equal companion of man; it has opened for her the gateway of knowledge and influence; it has placed her on the highest seat to receive its respect, its affection, its service. We may look a.t- ill. THE BPKCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH WOIIU.N MAY BENDER. 1. 'When not bound by domestic ties, she can offer, as these women did, of her worldly substance. 2. She can minister, as man cannot, to the sick and suffering; she has a gentle touch of hand and a tenderness and patience of spirit for which we look to man in vain. 3. She can train the child in the home, and, by giving to him or her the earliest and deepest impressions concerning Divine love, prepare for noblest work in after-years in various fields of holy servic;e.-U. Vera. 4--8.-Failure and success in hearing. The produce of our spiritual fields does not always nnswer to our hopes or reward our labours; there is much sowing, but little reaping. How do we account for it? I. TnE ACCOUNT OF THE FAILURE. 1. Inattention OD the part of the hearer. 'l'be truth is spoken faithfully, but so little heed is given to it that it ii no sooner uttered and heard than it has disappeared frfllll view. Sown on tlte hard wayside (ver. 5), it dces  220 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ~T. LUKE. (.cu. vm. 1---ti&